BEIJING (AP) — Tesla is recalling more than 1.6 million Model S, X, 3 and Y electric vehicles exported to China due to problems with auto-assist steering and door latch controls.
China’s State Administration of Market Regulation announced the recall on Friday. It was stated that Tesla Motors in Beijing and Shanghai will use remote upgrades to fix the problems, so in most cases vehicle owners will not need to visit Tesla service centers.
The recall applies to 1.6 million imported Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y due to problems with the automatic steering assist function.
The notice stated that when the automatic steering function is activated, drivers may abuse the combined driving function and increase the risk of an accident.
The recall to fix the door unlock logic control for imported Model S and Model X EVs affects 7,538 vehicles produced between October 26, 2022 and November 16, 2023. It is necessary to prevent door latches from opening during a crash.
The recalls follow last month’s recall of more than two million Tesla EVs in the United States to improve the system for monitoring drivers.
The recall follows a two-year investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which found the system was flawed. Autopilot has been implicated in a number of crashes that occurred while the partially autonomous driving system was being used. Some were fatal.
The upgrades are aimed at allowing drivers using Tesla’s Autopilot system to pay more attention to the road. Documents filed by Tesla with the US government state that the online software change will increase alerts and warnings to drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel.
But studies conducted by NHTSA, the National Transportation Safety Board and other researchers show that simply measuring torque at the steering wheel does not guarantee that drivers are paying adequate attention.
China is a major market and manufacturing hub for Tesla, and the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, has maintained close ties with Chinese officials even as U.S.-China relations sour. The company established an electric vehicle factory in Shanghai in 2019, which assembles cars for China, Europe and other overseas markets.
Tesla is the No. 2 seller in the fast-growing Chinese electric vehicle market. The market leader is the Chinese automobile company BYD.