Tesla has announced that it will recall more than 1.1 million cars in China due to potential safety risks. The recall comes as a result of issues that may increase the probability of drivers “mistakenly stepping on the accelerator pedal” for an extended period, which could increase the risk of collision and pose a “safety hazard,” according to the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).
The recall will begin on May 29, and will include 1,104,622 vehicles that were manufactured between January 12, 2019 and April 24, 2023. The models that will be recalled include imported Model S, Model X, Model 3, and China-made Model 3 and Model 6.
These numbers are nearly equivalent to Tesla’s total sales in mainland China during the four-year period, as the company sold approximately 1.09 million vehicles in the country from 2019 to March 2023.
Tesla plans to make adjustments or add notification features to the recalled vehicles to reduce the risk. The company has not yet confirmed whether vehicles from its Shanghai plant, which supplies vehicles to most markets outside of North America, will be subject to the same recall.
China is a significant sales and manufacturing center for Tesla, which constructed a large factory in Shanghai in January 2019. The facility, which was built in just 10 months at 65% of the cost of a similar plant in the United States, has already become the company’s main export hub. The recall is likely to have a significant impact on Tesla's reputation in China and its sales in the country.