China orders recall of 1.1 million Tesla vehicles – 05/12/2023 – Market

China has ordered Tesla, the world’s leading electric vehicle maker, to recall 1.1 million vehicles, citing a problem with the acceleration and braking systems of certain models made in China and abroad.

The Chinese market regulatory authority announced the decision after carrying out an investigation into a reported defect, according to a statement released on Friday. Vehicles called for recall include some imported Model S, Model X and Model 3 cars, as well as Model 3 and Model Y vehicles made in China between January 12, 2019 and April 24, 2023.

The problem involves the vehicles’ regenerative braking system, which generates electricity based on the movement of the car when the driver takes their foot off the accelerator. The State Administration for Market Regulation, China’s regulatory agency, announced in a statement that cars may not issue a warning when the driver presses the accelerator hard for an extended period.

The defect could lead to an increased risk of collisions, according to the statement.

Tesla said it would fix the vehicles with a software update sent wirelessly to the vehicles, according to the regulatory authority’s statement.

This is Tesla’s second recall in China in recent months. In March, Tesla recalled 2,649 vehicles manufactured between October 2015 and August 2020 after regulatory authorities in China said the hoods of certain imported Model S vehicles were at risk of opening when the vehicles were in operation, increasing the risk of collisions.

China is a significant market for Tesla, and the automaker’s revenue in the country rose to $18.2 billion last year from $13.8 billion in 2021. The recalls will begin on May 29, and Tesla notify owners of involved cars by mail or text message. China’s regulatory authorities did not say how many of the Teslas to be recalled were imported vehicles.

Tesla has also faced problems with US regulatory authorities. In February, the automaker recalled more than 362,000 cars equipped with the Full Self Driving driver assistance system, after the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that it increased the risk of accidents.

The driver assistance system, which can steer, accelerate, brake and change lanes on its own, allowed vehicles to travel above legal speed limits and cross intersections “illegally or unpredictably”, the agency said in documents published on its website. Tesla has stated that it is not aware of any deaths or injuries caused by failures identified by the agency.

In January, Tesla disclosed in a filing filed with regulatory authorities that the Justice Department had requested documentation related to the company’s self-driving software, which represents a potential setback for Chief Executive Elon Musk. As regulatory authorities investigate the safety of this technology, some Tesla vehicle owners have filed lawsuits in which they claim that Tesla’s self-driving software does not live up to Musk’s promises.

Translated by Paulo Migliacci