Tesla has recalled more than 1.6 million electric vehicles in China due to problems with auto-assist steering and door latch controls.
China's State Administration for Market Regulation announced that Tesla Motors in Beijing and Shanghai will use remote upgrades to fix the problems, so in most cases owners will not need to visit Tesla service centers.
1.6 million imported Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles have been recalled due to problems with the automatic steering assist function.
When the automatic steering function is engaged, drivers may misuse the combined driving function, which could increase the risk of an accident, the notice said.
The recall to fix the door unlock control for Model S and Model X EVs affects 7,538 vehicles manufactured between October 26, 2022 and November 16, 2023. This is necessary to prevent the door latches from opening during a collision.
Autopilot errors
More than 2 million Tesla EVs were recalled in the US last month to improve the driver monitoring system.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a two-year investigation after a series of accidents that occurred while the vehicles were partially using autopilot.
The updates aim to ensure that drivers using Tesla's autopilot system pay more attention to the road.
In documents submitted by Tesla to the US government, it said the online software change would increase warnings and alerts to drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel.
However, research by expert organizations shows that simply measuring the torque on the steering wheel does not guarantee that drivers are paying sufficient attention.
Elon Musk's China plan
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has continued to maintain close ties with Chinese officials even as Washington-Beijing relations deteriorated.
The company is in the second position in China's market, which is an important market and production center. Chinese car company BYD is in first place.
Tesla built an electric vehicle factory in Shanghai in 2019, assembling cars.
