The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is currently reviewing the regulations concerning car safety in the UK after China initiated a substantial recall involving more than four million vehicles. This review comes in the wake of China’s decision to recall approximately 2.98 million Tesla cars, alongside models from local manufacturers such as Xpeng, Xiaomi, and Leapmotor, due to issues related to “hidden” or flush door handles.
While the DVSA has confirmed that there are presently no active recalls affecting Tesla vehicles in the UK regarding this matter, officials are closely monitoring the situation. A spokesperson for the agency emphasised that vehicle safety remains their top priority. They explained that the DVSA collaborates with automobile manufacturers to determine when a safety recall is necessary, ensuring that any corrective measures are both effective and comply with existing safety regulations.
“DVSA is currently reviewing the situation and working with manufacturers to identify if there is a problem in the UK,” the spokesperson added. Motorists in the UK are encouraged to check for any active safety recalls affecting their vehicles by visiting the official government website, GOV.UK.
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The recall in China stems from mounting safety concerns regarding minimalist, pop-out door handles. The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced in February that these door handles will be prohibited from January 1, 2027. This decision follows incidents where the handles lost power following crashes, hindering emergency services' ability to access occupants trapped inside.
As part of the recall, affected Tesla vehicles in China will have warning labels placed inside the doors and will receive a software update designed to automatically lower the windows in the event of a collision.
Steve Walker, head of digital content at Auto Express, commented on the wider implications, stating, “China’s decision to require mechanical door releases both inside and outside the car could have consequences well beyond its borders. Manufacturers won’t want to build completely different cars for different markets, so what happens in China could influence the cars we buy here in the UK. And, with the US also looking at tougher rules and Europe reviewing the technology, the days of the flush, electronic door handle could be numbered.”