Tesla is recalling 1.62 million vehicles in China to fix its Autopilot system, which steers and accelerates automatically.
A regulator in China said Tesla would make the changes through a software update issued to the vehicles.
The recall includes Tesla’s Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y in China made from 2014 to 2023, due to problems with automatic assisted steering. Regulators also said in the release more than 7,500 Model S and Model X cars with production dates between Oct. 26, 2022 and Nov. 16, 2023 have been recalled over concerns that, during a crash, the noncollision side door will unlock.
It comes the month after more than 2 million U.S. Tesla owners began receiving over-the-air software updates as a result of a recall due to the vehicles’ autopilot feature.
Regulators have launched investigations into Autopilot after dozens of crashes, some of them fatal, in which the technology was activated.
The system warns drivers that they should have their hands on the wheel and pay attention to the road when it is activated.
Tesla can remotely upgrade the vehicles to fix the issues, the China State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement. The update is free. Tesla said it will notify affected car owners through registered mail and SMS.
This week, China’s BYD surpassed Tesla as the world’s best-selling electric car maker, after selling 526,409 cars in the fourth quarter of 2023 against Tesla’s 484,507.
