Government regulators have spent the last year asking serious questions about Tesla’s electronic, retractable door handles, a cool-looking automotive design flourish that has since been imitated by plenty of competitors.
\n\nThe handles have been blamed, in the US and in China, for making it difficult for passengers to quickly exit vehicles, and for impeding rescue efforts. A handful of crash victims’ families have even filed lawsuits against Tesla, alleging the door handle designs played roles in their loved ones’ deaths.
\n\nNow the door handles have led to Tesla’s largest recall ever—and China’s. The Chinese government is recalling more than 2.9 million Model 3s and Model Ys manufactured in China between 2019 and 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation announced Friday.
\n\nSome of the affected vehicles will be made safer with an over-the-air software update that lowers windows after collisions, making it more difficult for passengers to become trapped inside. But many cars will also need new warning stickers—affixed free of charge—that can help passengers find and operate emergency mechanical door handles. Those handles can currently be hard to identify because they’re similarly colored to the rest of the vehicles’ interiors. The mechanical door handles are especially important when vehicles’…
Original source: https://www.wired.com/