Setback for Tesla in China, Elon Musk’s EV company recalls 1.6 million cars due to faulty Autopilot, steering

China’s market regulator announced on Friday that Tesla is recalling over 1.6 million electric vehicles in the country due to software issues that could potentially pose safety risks while driving. The recall was sparked by the discovery of problems with assisted driving functions and door-locking systems, both of which can be fixed with OTA or over-the-air updates. The recall covers a substantial portion of Tesla’s fleet in China, a crucial market for the US-based electric car manufacturer. China plays a vital role in Tesla’s global strategy, serving as both a significant consumer market and the location of a major manufacturing facility in Shanghai. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) stated in an online announcement, “Starting from now, a total of 1,610,105 imported Model S, Model X, and Model 3, and domestic Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles with production dates between August 26, 2014, and December 20, 2023, will be recalled.” The identified issue relates to the automatic assisted steering function, where drivers may misuse the level two combined assisted driving function, increasing the risk of vehicle collisions and posing safety hazards, according to SAMR. Additionally, the recall extends to 7,538 imported Tesla models produced between October 26, 2022, and November 16, 2023, which were found to have “a problem with the door unlock logic controls.” China’s market regulator stated that in these vehicles, there is a potential for drivers to “misuse” the Autopilot functions, thereby elevating the likelihood of collisions. Tesla plans to enhance the software system in these vehicles by incorporating additional controls and alerts. This update aims to reinforce the driver’s commitment to their responsibility while driving. The recall of Autopilot mirrors a comparable action taken in the United States. In the previous month, Tesla recalled nearly all of its 2 million cars on US roads to restrict the use of the feature. This decision was prompted by a probe conducted by US regulators, focusing on approximately 1,000 crashes. (With inputs from agencies)