At Least 15 Dead as China Orders Record-Breaking Recall Involving Nearly 4.3 Million Vehicles

[Anchor]

China is currently carrying out the largest automotive recall in its history, affecting nearly 4.3 million vehicles. Tesla vehicles alone account for 3 million of the recalled units. The recall order requires manufacturers to address safety issues with flush-mounted door handles that make it difficult to open vehicle doors during accidents.

Reporter Kim Minpyo has the details.

[Reporter]

After a Tesla vehicle crashes into a highway guardrail and bursts into flames, other drivers smash the windows to initiate a rescue.

[Shouldn't we get out of the car and help with the rescue? There are people inside the car.]

It has been found that at least 15 passengers have died in Tesla vehicle fires after rescuers were unable to open the doors.

This happens because the flush electronic door handles installed on Tesla vehicles stop working when an accident occurs or power is cut off.

This makes it difficult either to open the doors from the inside or for outsiders to rescue occupants.

Although safety concerns were raised even within Tesla, CEO Elon Musk reportedly insisted on using the flush door handles.

China has ordered nine automakers using flush electronic door handles to issue recalls and has completely banned the installation of such handles starting next year.

The recall targets 4.27 million vehicles, including 2.98 million from Tesla and 390,000 from Xiaomi, marking the largest scale ever within China.

Tesla plans to add software that automatically rolls down the windows in the event of an accident and attach labels indicating the locations of the mechanical manual release mechanisms.

In the United States, investigations into similar cases are underway alongside discussions to make manual door release mechanisms mandatory for new cars.

[Rene Sanchez / Tesla Driver (June 2024): I didn't care—I begged the rescue workers to tear the car in half just to get my grandson out.]

Because electric vehicles share similar flush door handle structures, China's latest recall crisis is expected to impact other countries, including South Korea.

(Video Editing: Cho Muhwan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.