The American electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is recalling over 1.6 million vehicles in China, addressing concerns raised by the country’s regulatory body regarding steering software and door-locking systems. The recall encompasses several Tesla models, including the S, X, 3, Y, and 7,538 imported vehicles.
Notably, this recall will be conducted through remote software updates, eliminating the need for the vehicles to be physically taken to dealerships or garages for repairs. This move follows a recent recall of two million Tesla cars in the US due to issues with autopilot software.
Last year, the Chinese regulator, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), highlighted potential issues related to acceleration and braking systems in over a million Tesla vehicles. These concerns led to the discovery of problems in assisted driving functions and door-locking systems.
SAMR has characterized the software update as a recall, though it will be administered remotely. Tesla plans to release an over-the-air software update for 1,610,105 vehicles, including Models S and X (imported) and China-made Models 3 and Y, produced between 2014 and 2023. The update aims to address autosteer function issues and reduce collision risks.
“For vehicles included in this recall, when the automatic assisted steering function is activated, there’s an increased risk of vehicle collision due to potential misuse of the level two combined assisted driving function, posing a safety hazard,” explained the SAMR.
In a separate initiative, Tesla will also update the software in 7,538 Models S and X units to rectify door-locking issues in crashes.
This recall is another setback for Tesla in China, following the recent news that BYD surpassed Tesla in global electric car sales in the last quarter of 2023. Additionally, in 2022, Tesla recalled around 128,000 cars in China due to a defect in the rear motor inverter.
China represents a significant market for Tesla, where electric and hybrid vehicles are promoted through subsidies. The country aims for a clean, energy-powered majority of cars by 2035. As reported by Xinhua, the state news agency, Tesla’s Shanghai gigafactory, its first outside the United States, produced 947,000 vehicles in 2023.
