Door handles behind China’s record auto recall

BusinessDoor handles behind China’s record auto recallBy Reuters -Aug 22, 2026Add ARY News on GoogleAAResizeElectronic door handles of the kind that are at the center of China’s largest-ever vehicle recall have proliferated across the globe over the past decade, especially on electric vehicles. Tesla and eight other automakers said on Friday they will ‌recall a total of about 4.3 million vehicles in China over concerns that their doors may be difficult to open in an emergency. Popularized by Tesla, the door handles are designed to sit flush to the body of the door, for a minimalist look that also reduces aerodynamic drag. The handles electronically extend outward, typically as the owner approaches the car. It is unclear whether Tesla ​plans to do a similar recall in the U.S. or Europe. The company and auto-safety regulators in the U.S. and Europe didn’t immediately respond ​to requests for comment. WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS WITH THESE HANDLES? Vehicle doors with these handles employ buttons to open them rather than ⁠a traditional mechanical system. If automakers don’t have a clear manual release option for if a car loses power, it can be difficult for passengers or the ​driver to escape a vehicle in a life-threatening situation, said Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety. While some automakers have a relatively intuitive system in ​which an interior lever can be pulled twice to manually release, Tesla’s manual release is either in the door pocket or under a panel, without clear signage, he said. Some EV drivers have found the evolving design of high-tech handles confusing. “The basic touch point of door handles is now a percolating problem area as manufacturers attempt to redesign them,” consultants JD ​Power said in 2023, stating that seven of the 10 most problematic models in this area were EVs. Several lawsuits have alleged that Tesla’s door-handle designs led to ​driver or passenger injuries or deaths after they were trapped in a vehicle w...