China has put emergency access at the centre of the electric-car safety debate, with Tesla accounting for the overwhelming majority of vehicles in the country’s largest automotive recall. Tesla and 10 other manufacturers are addressing almost 4.3 million vehicles after regulators raised concerns that mechanical emergency door releases can be difficult to find or operate when electrical systems fail.
Tesla faces the largest share
Tesla’s campaign covers about 2.98 million imported and China-built Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles, according to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation. The recall is due to begin on September 25. The issue is not that every release is mechanically broken; rather, the emergency handles may be hard for occupants or rescuers to identify after a serious crash and loss of electrical power. Tesla’s remedy combines warning labels with an over-the-air update designed to lower the windows automatically following a collision, improving access if normal electronic opening systems are unavailable.
The scale reaches well beyond Tesla. Xiaomi is recalling roughly 390,000 vehicles, Leapmotor about 371,000 and Xpeng about 264,000, while Geely-linked brands and several other Chinese manufacturers are also involved. Most participating carmakers will add labels identifying the mechanical release, and many will change window or unlocking behaviour through remote software. China has already said concealed door handles will be banned from 2027, a striking reversal for a sleek design feature popularised by Tesla and copied across the EV sector. For buyers, the lesson is practical: knowing where the manual release sits is as important as understanding charging or driver-assistance controls.
BYD pushes range and rapid charging
While safety rules tighten, BYD used the Chengdu Auto Show to debut its third-generation Tang, a five-seat, mid-to-large electric SUV scheduled for a fourth-quarter launch. The new Tang uses BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and flash-charging technology, with 88.682kWh and 105.792kWh packs. Depending on specification, BYD claims 730km, 830km or 850km of range on China’s CLTC test cycle. It also says a 10-to-70 per cent charge can take about five minutes in normal temperatures. Those figures will need real-world validation, but they show how quickly the competitive target is shifting from basic range to the speed and convenience of replenishing it.
The Tang also brings a 300kW single-motor configuration previously disclosed to Chinese regulators, air suspension with road preview, and BYD’s God’s Eye B driver-assistance package with lidar. Its arrival follows the larger Da Tang EV and gives BYD a refreshed flagship pairing as competition in its home market intensifies. In Australia, price pressure is moving in the same consumer-friendly direction: Audi has cut the Q4 e-tron’s price by about $18,000, positioning the electric SUV more favourably around local tax incentives. Premium badges can no longer assume buyers will ignore the value offered by fast-moving Chinese rivals.
What EV owners should watch
This week’s developments show the two forces shaping the next phase of electric mobility: rapid gains in battery performance and sharper scrutiny of everyday safety. Faster charging and longer claimed range will win attention, but simple, fail-safe access after a crash can matter far more. EV enthusiasts should expect regulators to keep testing whether futuristic design choices work when the power goes out—and manufacturers to respond through both software and more visible physical controls.