Tesla recalls 1.6 million cars in China to reduce risk of collisions

The issues can be fixed through over-the-air software updates, according to a statement from China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, the nation’s top market regulator.

The Autopilot recall covers 1.61 million Tesla (TSLA) cars in the company’s second biggest market, including imported Model S, Model X and Model 3 sedans as well as Chinese-made Model 3 sedans and Model Y SUVs. The vehicles were made between August 26, 2014 and December 20, 2023.

In these vehicles, drivers might “misuse” the Autopilot functions, which could increase the risk of collisions, the regulator said in the statement.

Tesla will update the software system for these vehicles, including adding controls and alerts to “further encourage the driver to adhere to their driving responsibility,” it added.

A second recall — covering 7,538 imported Model S sedans and Model X SUVs — relates to the risk that doors could unlatch and open during a crash, the regulator’s statement said. These vehicles were manufactured between October 26, 2022 and November 16, 2023.

The Autopilot recall follows a similar move in the US. Last month, Tesla recalled nearly all 2 million of its cars on US roads to limit the use of the feature following a probe by US regulators of roughly 1,000 crashes.

The limitations on Autopilot serve as a blow to Tesla’s efforts to market its vehicles to buyers willing to pay extra to have their cars do the driving for them.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.