China has ordered Tesla, the world’s dominant electric vehicle manufacturer, to recall 1.1 million vehicles, citing a problem with the acceleration and braking systems of certain models manufactured in China and abroad.
China’s market regulator announced the decision after conducting an investigation into a reported defect, according to a statement released Friday. The recalled vehicles include some imported Model S, Model X and Model 3 cars, as well as Chinese-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured between January 12, 2019 and April 24, 2023.
The problem has to do with the vehicles’ regenerative braking system, which generates electricity from the movement of the car when the driver takes one foot off the accelerator. The National Office for Market Regulation said in a statement that the cars may not give a warning if the driver presses hard on the accelerator pedal for a long time.
The defect could lead Unpleasant increased risk of collisions, the statement said.
Tesla said it would fix the vehicles with a software update that would be sent wirelessly to the vehicles, the regulator’s statement said.
This is Tesla’s second recall in China in recent months. In March, Tesla recalled 2,649 vehicles manufactured between October 2015 and August 2020 after China’s regulator said the hoods of certain imported Model S vehicles were at risk of opening while the vehicle was in operation, increasing the risk of a collision. increased.
China is an important market for Tesla, with sales up $18.2 billion last year from $13.8 billion in 2021. The recalls will begin on May 29, and Tesla will notify relevant car owners by mail or text. The Chinese regulator did not say how many of the recalled Teslas were imported.
Tesla has also faced issues with US regulators. In February, Tesla recalled more than 362,000 cars equipped with the Full Self Driving driver assistance system after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found it increased the risk of crashes.
The driver assistance system, which can independently steer, accelerate, brake and change lanes, enabled vehicles to drive above legal speed limits and across intersections in “an unlawful or unpredictable manner,” the agency said in documents posted on its website. It said Tesla was not aware of any deaths or injuries caused by the flaws the agency identified.
In January, Tesla disclosed in a filing filing that the Justice Department had requested documents related to the company’s self-driving software, a potential setback for CEO Elon Musk. As regulators investigate the safety of this technology, some Tesla owners have filed lawsuits alleging Tesla’s self-driving software fails to deliver on Mr. Musk’s promises.
