China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) disclosed the largest single round of vehicle recalls in industry history, covering more than 7 million cars across 11 automakers. According to regulatory filings, the sweeping action targets interior emergency mechanical door releases that are hard to identify and operate during collisions, with Tesla, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, and Xpeng leading the filings.
Tesla Leads Massive Recall Campaign Over Door Release Defects
Tesla accounts for the largest share of the recall campaign, with two separate actions covering a combined 5,716,552 vehicles, according to calculations from CnEVPost. The filings include 2,975,910 vehicles recalled specifically over emergency mechanical door releases effective September 25, 2026, comprising 973,156 domestically built Model 3s and 1,956,713 domestically built Model Ys. Imported vehicles in that total account for 35,590 Model 3s, 8,328 Model Xs, and 2,123 Model Ss, as reported in regulatory documents. According to SAMR announcements, the defect stems from emergency mechanical door releases that match the color of surrounding interior trim, creating identification hurdles in severe crashes where low-voltage electrical systems fail. To remedy the issue, Tesla will add warning labels free of charge and deploy an over-the-air (OTA) software update to implement a post-crash window-lowering strategy, alongside separate in-cabin camera monitoring added via OTA.
Xiaomi, Leapmotor, and Xpeng Detail Software Fixes and Warning Labels
Alongside Tesla, major domestic EV manufacturers filed extensive recall plans with SAMR. Xiaomi is recalling 390,435 units of its 2024 SU7 series, utilizing warning labels paired with OTA updates to optimize center console unlocking logic and window-lowering strategies, according to regulatory disclosures. Leapmotor filed to recall 371,200 vehicles total, split between 322,575 C11s and 48,625 C01s. Xpeng initiated a recall for 264,842 vehicles starting August 22, covering 134,588 G6s, 94,688 P7+s, and 35,566 X9s, with remedies limited to adding warning labels. Additional filings include Geely’s Zeekr recalling 92,658 units of the 007 and X models from August 24, and Chery recalling 57,688 iCar 03s and 10,800 Fulwin X3s starting September 18 to replace emergency mechanical door release covers with improved versions, according to SAMR data.
Did you know?
According to Reuters, at least six car brands—including Tesla, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Zeekr, and Lynk & Co—announced their largest individual recalls on record simultaneously during this regulatory action.
Regulatory Push Against Hidden Door Handles Ahead of 2027 Mandate
The coordinated recall action coincides with tighter Chinese oversight regarding vehicle door handles, driven by prior cases where occupants could not escape burning vehicles after severe crashes. Reuters reported that state media noted an instance where the driver of a Xiaomi SU7 sedan died after a crash and fire because bystanders could not open the doors from the outside. In response, China released the mandatory national standard GB 48001—2026 in February, which takes effect for new models on January 1, 2027. The standard requires all doors to be equipped with a mechanical release mechanism, effectively phasing out purely electronic hidden door handles popularized by Tesla and adopted across the industry. Models already on sale possess a two-year transition period extending through January 2029.
Industry Impact and Cost Analysis of OTA Remedies
The sheer scale of the recall reflects aggressive regulatory scrutiny of software-driven features in the world’s largest vehicle market, which is currently gripped by a fierce price war. However, automotive analysts note that modern manufacturing and delivery methods mitigate the financial burden. Sam Fiorani, vice president of research firm AutoForecast Solutions, stated to Reuters that modern over-the-air updates reduce costs and downtime associated with major recalls, noting that physical work required for labeling will not be overly costly compared to historical recalls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are automakers recalling millions of vehicles in China?
Automakers are recalling vehicles because interior emergency mechanical door releases are difficult to identify and operate in severe crashes, potentially trapping occupants or hindering rescue efforts, according to SAMR.
What are the primary fixes being applied to the recalled vehicles?
Companies like Tesla, Xiaomi, and Xpeng are installing warning labels free of charge and deploying over-the-air software updates to automate post-crash window-lowering strategies.
Is China banning hidden door handles?
Yes. China released the mandatory national standard GB 48001—2026, which bans concealed electronic door handles for new models starting January 1, 2027, requiring all doors to feature a mechanical release mechanism.
Which companies are involved in the recall campaign?
Eleven automakers filed recall plans, including Tesla, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Zeekr, Chery, Geely Auto, Dongfeng, Arcfox, and FAW, according to SAMR.
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