Tesla, Chery, Zeekr, Leapmotor, Xpeng swept up in recall of over four million Chinese-made vehicles

Over four million vehicles, including just under three million Teslas, are being recalled in China to address concerns over occupants getting trapped inside in a collision.

The recalls – which involve vehicles from Tesla, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Zeekr, Hongqi and others – all concern the emergency interior door releases.

“The vehicles included in this recall have emergency mechanical door handles that are difficult to identify and operate because their colour is similar to the interior trim,” reads Tesla’s recall notice, translated to English.

“In extreme situations such as a severe collision causing the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail, this could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard.”

Below is a list of recalled models and how many vehicles are affected:

• Tesla Model Y: 1,956,713
• Tesla Model 3: 1,008,746
• Tesla Model S: 2123
• Tesla Model X: 8328
• Leapmotor C01: 48,625
• Leapmotor C11: 322,575
• Zeekr 007 and X: 92,658
• Xpeng G6: 134,588
• Xpeng P7+: 94,688
• Xpeng X9: 35,566
• iCar 03/Chery Fengyun X3: 68,488

Also recalled are vehicles from brands that don’t yet sell vehicles in Australia, including Arcfox (46,850 Kaola people movers), Xiaomi (390,435 SU7s), Hongqi (7873 EH7 sedans and 4035 Tiangong 08 SUVs) and a range of Dongfeng vehicles (53,452).

All up, the recalls affect 4,275,743 vehicles.

To remedy the issue, most of the automakers involved will affix free warning labels to affected vehicles, if they don’t already have them.

Some of the companies, including Tesla and Zeekr, will also roll out an over-the-air software update to add a “post-accident window lowering strategy”, while Chery will fit a new emergency mechanical handle cover.

Exterior and interior door releases have come under closer scrutiny in China following well-publicised incidents.

A man was killed in an October 2025 crash involving a Xiaomi SU7, with Chinese media reporting the driver – who had allegedly been under the influence and speeding – couldn’t free himself from the vehicle.

The doors reportedly couldn’t be opened after the low-voltage system lost power, and despite bystanders rushing to help try to extricate the man from the vehicle, he perished in the blaze.

The Chinese government has implemented new regulations concerning interior door releases, which for new vehicles launched in China from January 2027 must include mechanical functionality.

The regulations will be expanded to all vehicles sold in China from January 1, 2029.

The government has also introduced new regulations concerning exterior door releases.

Footage of a March 2025 crash in China involving a Dongfeng 007 showed the driver able to escape. However, he couldn’t open the rear doors to free passengers from the vehicle, which was starting to emit smoke.

Fortunately, all vehicle occupants were able to escape by being pulled out of the smashed windows.

MORE: China bans Tesla-style door handles