China Issues Largest-Ever Auto Recall Over Door Escape Risk, Impacts Tesla, Xiaomi and Others

China has initiated its largest-ever automotive recall, with recall plans filed by multiple automakers on the same day covering more than 7 million vehicles. The recalls affect brands including Tesla, Xiaomi Auto, Geely, Leapmotor and XPENG, and center on a potential door escape risk.

Scale of the Recall

The combined recall volume of over 7 million units makes this by far the biggest single recall action in China's automotive history. The five brands alone account for a substantial share of new-energy vehicle sales in the world's largest auto market, amplifying the recall's significance.

Details on the specific models and quantities affected per brand have not been fully published. The recall plans were filed simultaneously, suggesting a coordinated regulatory push rather than isolated incidents.

Door Escape Risk

The recalls are linked to a door escape risk — a safety concern in which occupants may be unable to open a vehicle door from the inside during an emergency. While the source has not disclosed the precise mechanical or software defect behind the hazard, door-escape issues have in the past been tied to electronic door-lock systems, handle designs and sensor-dependent unlock mechanisms that fail when battery power is lost.

Regulators in China have increasingly scrutinized smart-door and electronic-latch systems as vehicles incorporate more software-driven features.

Affected Brands

• Tesla — production in China at the Shanghai Gigafactory
• Xiaomi Auto — maker of the Xiaomi SU7
• Geely — one of China's largest independent automakers
• Leapmotor — a Beijing-backed EV startup now part of the Stellantis group
• XPENG — a Guangzhou-based smart-EV maker

No details were available at the time of writing on whether other manufacturers might also be included in subsequent recall filings.

Next Steps

Recall filings in China typically require affected owners to be notified and vehicles to be inspected or repaired at authorized service centers. The nature of the remediation — whether a software update, hardware replacement or both — has not yet been disclosed.

The National Center for Memory Quality Management of Automotive Products (NCCRCP) is the regulatory body that oversees recall administration in China. A full breakdown of models, quantities and remediation plans is expected as individual automakers publish their recall notices.