Tesla is recalling over 1.6 million vehicles in China due to issues with steering software and door-locking systems, according to the country’s regulator. The recall includes models S, X, 3, and Y, as well as 7,538 imported vehicles. The problems will be fixed through remote software updates, eliminating the need for vehicles to be taken to dealerships or garages. This comes shortly after Tesla recalled two million cars in the US due to autopilot software problems. Last year, the Chinese regulator warned of acceleration and braking system issues in over a million vehicles. Tesla also discovered problems with assisted driving functions and door locks. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) in China referred to the software update as a recall, despite it being done remotely. Tesla will release an over-the-air software update for a total of 1,610,105 vehicles, including imported Models S and X, as well as China-made Models 3 and Y cars produced from 2014 to 2023. The SAMR stated that this update aims to address issues with the autosteer function and reduce the risk of collisions. Additionally, Tesla will upgrade the software for 7,538 units of Models S and X cars to address the problem of doors unlocking during crashes. This is the second setback for Tesla in China, as China’s BYD surpassed Tesla in electric car sales globally in the last quarter of 2023. In 2022, Tesla also recalled around 128,000 cars in China due to a defect in the rear motor inverter. Tesla has a significant consumer market in China, where the government has encouraged the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles through subsidies. China aims to have a majority of clean energy-powered cars by 2035. Tesla’s major manufacturing plant in Shanghai, its first “gigafactory” built overseas, delivered 947,000 vehicles in 2023.
Not for human consumption
