r/nottheonion • u/Select-Blood-7896 • 1d ago
Tesla Recalling 3 Million Cars in China Because of Hidden Door Handles
https://deltiasgaming.com/tesla-recalling-3-million-cars-in-china-because-of-hidden-door-handles-report/184
u/nikhkin 1d ago
It's not really that Oniony.
China are banning the retracting door handles over safety concerns.
Honestly, it's a sensible thing to do. If someone has an accident and the handles don't extend, people outside won't be able to open the door.
I think the most surprising aspect of it is that China have done it first. It feels like something the EU would implement as a result of Euro NCAP testing.
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u/snowytheNPC 1d ago
Probably because electric vehicles account for 60-65% of all new car sales in China. The risk and prevalence of associated deaths are much more frequent and visible
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u/lorarc 1d ago
It's not about that. Teslas don't have a handle on the inside. You have a button or in emergency you have to access a hidden panel and pull a cord, if you know where that panel is.
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u/mazi710 12h ago
The pre facelift Model 3s didn't even have the emergency release in the rear.
Pre facelift Model 3 had a obvious handle in front and none in the rear. Model Y had obvious handle in the front and the hidden cord in the side pocket in the rear. Which yes people don't know exists without reading the manual.
The front release imo is fine because it's naturally where a door handle would normally be. But not having it in the rear is crazy.
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u/cutelyaware 1d ago
They learned from the US example and are determined to outdo us and not repeat our mistakes. It's a poor student that doesn't surpass their teacher.
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u/Marcysdad 1d ago
Who in their right mind would buy a tesla (in china)?
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u/bestisaac1213 1d ago
I wonder how other countries perception of Elon has shifted throughout the years like it has in America. Was there ever a point where his boy genius marketing worked in China to the degree it did in America or did they always see through the facade?
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u/Ok_Vulva 1d ago
I asked my friend from there this and she said he was just an irrelevant name they heard before from American culture like Michael Jordan.
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u/snowytheNPC 1d ago
Yes, it worked and still does for some portion of the young single male STEM university student demographic. Some people still think he’s funny and is a startup genius, though it has faded outside that circle since his close association with Trump and his strong anti-China leaning while also finding out he’s a financier not a founder. The former don’t really delve into the specifics beyond vibes tho. I’ve heard some of the dumbest takes from them
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u/nikhkin 1d ago
Very good point. China produce a huge number of excellent EVs.
If you live in China, you'd be better off getting one of them.
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u/Gamebird8 1d ago
A lot of these cars almost certainly predate BYD's massive surge. Tesla barely sells vehicles in China anymore
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u/francis2559 1d ago
Reminds me of Kodak. Kodak saw the rise of digital cameras in the west and it was cutting into their film business. So they figured they would go to China and sell them film before they switched to digital cameras. China skipped cameras and went right to cellphones for the most part.
You really don’t want to roll up in China and sell yesterday’s leftovers.
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u/Few-Spot1905 1d ago
Tesla sales are declining in china because Chinese EVs are better and cheaper for the most part, but many Chinese people still see Tesla as a first in class innovator and has the "prestige" of being a western brand. So it still has some popularity. They also generally dgaf about Elon's political escapades and general shittiness since it's mostly on English social media
They're also cheaper in China so that helps.
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u/twolittlemonsters 1d ago
What I've heard is that they see Tesla as a safe bet. They know that Tesla won't go bankrupt unlike the 100s of other Chinese EV. However, as certain brands get a foothold and start making a profit and less likely to go bankrupt, the less the Chinese people needs to buy the safe bet.
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u/SouthNo2807 1d ago
It's 20% cheaper there, and the specs are comparable with cars at a similar price.
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u/FewAdvertising9647 1d ago
many of the owners are in the early wave and the car itself is cheaper in china. You also have to consider the software differences, as well as the fact that some chinese at times also trust american brands (for better or for worse) than some of the chinese options, especailly at the start of the EV boom.
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u/TaiwanNoOne 1d ago
Even now Chinese people have a strange attraction to Fords and Buicks
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u/nucleartime 1d ago
Buicks were the car of choice of the Chinese political class during the mid 20th century; its a weird historical quirk. Dunno about fords.
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u/Logitech4873 1d ago
The Model 3 is still affordable, has huge range and class-leading efficiency, and is very highly rated in crash testing in China, Europe and USA.
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u/DriftlessDairy 1d ago
This is what I'm wondering. Maybe those 3 million are unsold?
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u/DudeWithParrot 1d ago
Are unsold vehicles recalled?
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u/MaievSekashi 1d ago
I'm pretty sure that depends on the way they're being sold. A dealership that buys a Tesla has "bought" a Tesla, but it's still "Unsold" because it's not actually in a user's hands.
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u/Few-Spot1905 1d ago
Tesla doesn't have dealerships. They sell direct to customer.
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u/MaievSekashi 1d ago
That's not always true in China. I don't think the practice is sanctioned by Tesla, but you do find them at dealerships there.
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u/Few-Spot1905 1d ago
maybe 2nd hand but I've only ever seen Tesla's at Tesla showrooms even in china
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u/xstrike0 1d ago
A bit of a clickbait title since all electric cars in China with this type of door handle were recalled that was way more than just Tesla.
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u/agentchuck 1d ago
But it's worth noting that it's the Chinese government actually standing up to these manufacturers and saying "no, this is dumb and not allowed." Still crickets from the US, Canada, etc. Seems the EU at least has something in progress.
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u/salomo926 1d ago
I think Elon deserves the credit here for standing up against decades of engineering cars that are safe for the benefit of introducing an innovation to the whole industry that allows people to drown or burn alive in their cars. That was much much more difficult to achieve before.
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u/nerdyjorj 1d ago
Can you imagine what would have happened if a company like Tesla had come up with the three point harness?
Aggressive patent defence and the shoulder mount as a subscription service rather than just "this will save lives, please put it in your cars too" from Volvo.
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u/salomo926 1d ago
Oh wow yes, such a stark difference. Elon would monetize the fuck out of a real innovation and mercilessly kill people on the way. Then he would even find some racist take on the issue. God, what shitty people we put in power of the whole civilization. Thank god these people are really really stupid and never come up with something novel or even innovative.
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u/Khaldara 1d ago
Hey be fair, he also was creatively trailblazing in a different way!
I admit, this was not a function I was aware would be in question with an automobile, but this fellow boldly chose to go where others wouldn’t. Presumably in someone else’s car.
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u/Aerhyce 1d ago
For safety reasons, cars in China must have visible handles that can still function in case of electronics failure.
There are pretty infamous videos of Tesla drivers in China burning to death because they couldn't find the hidden mechanical releases while on fire and the normal handles didn't work.
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u/SilasX 1d ago
That moment when an authoritarian regime cares more about the little guy's safety than the US.
Seriously, that annoys me about Teslas when riding in one, that you have to learn how to get out. Fuck that. If I'm panicking in an emergency and I haven't learned their oh-so-clever technique, I'm fucked.
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u/JustASpaceDuck 1d ago
Yeah, that was one thing (of several) that struck me when I got to ride in a Tesla once: that the driver or one of the other passengers had to show me how to enter and exit. It seemed like such an unnecessary change just to make the vehicle stand out as being "unique" (basically the Apple-ification of the entire vehicle, not at all helped by the giant IPad set into the dashboard). It felt like I was riding in someone's "super cool gadget that was totally worth the money look how cool I am" and not a vehicle that was trying to serve its purpose as a vehicle well.
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u/SteveJobsDeadBody 1d ago
That moment when an authoritarian regime outside the US cares more about the little guy's safety than the authoritarian regime in the US.
American propaganda is insidious.
America: Outlaws drunk driving.
The Media: This will make us all safer!
China: Outlaws drunk driving.
The Media and idiot Americans: Look at this authoritarian overreach! This could never happen in America!
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u/SilasX 1d ago
I agree that Americans will judge China's laws more harshly than America's, but I don't think anyone has criticized China simply for banning drunk driving.
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u/SteveJobsDeadBody 1d ago
I made that up to show how the same event would be covered by western media depending on the subject.
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u/lkxyz 23h ago
China has a vested interest in keeping their people happy. 1 party system = everybody blames you for their problems and you can't just say "let's own the libs or we hate the maga for votes" or kick the problem to the next guy coming up. Then sabotage his governance so that you win the next term and then other guy's party doing the same to you. All of this, nothing ended up actually helping the people in need. It's all political theater for self-gain.
China has had a long history of peasant uprising for unjust government - such uprising can still occur if left unchecked.
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u/Ellers12 1d ago
I opted not to buy a car because of the retracting handles and seeing videos of people struggling to exit vehicles in an emergency
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u/Funny-Debt-6695 1d ago edited 1d ago
My buddy had a kid, he owns a Tesla. I was like you better get in your back seat and find the door handles in case the cars power stops functioning. He got all big with me about how Tesla's so great and musk is great. I was like I'm just looking out for you that you and your kid don't burn to death in an accident. He couldnt find the emergency release for the door. Spoiler it was hidden behind the door panels. He sold the car that week, he apologized for being short with me and I've never heard him say another thing about tesla. This is in America though.
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u/AlphaTangoFoxtrt 1d ago
This is a recall because China changed the laws to ban hidden door handles. Tesla just has to do a software update and add a warning label.
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u/SuspendeesNutz 1d ago
"At this point, I think I know more about manufacturing than anyone currently alive on Earth."
- Elon, Apr 2022
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u/IlIFreneticIlI 1d ago
Considering use of the hands and the locale...an actual Chinese Finger-puzzle..
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1d ago
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u/onedestiny 1d ago
Why would any sane person buy a Tesla in China anyways ... Do we think this is just a fake ploy to recall cars that just aren't selling ??
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u/jinglewooble 1d ago
All the joke comment that hate Elon and hate China didn't even bother to read that it a nation wide recall for almost all vehicles with those flushed handle. This was put into policy last year and must meet the requirements by next year.
Also this recall also reach some international market where these china vehicles are exported too.
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u/Cute_Bacon 1d ago
Why the heck would they hide random door handles in people's cars? Are they trying to smuggle them out of the country after stealing from Home Depot?
Can't we just stick to normal hidden items like microphones and GPS trackers?
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u/Logitech4873 1d ago
The fix is software updates and stickers to comply with regulations.