Tesla is once again in the spotlight for a massive recall of over 1.1 million vehicles in China due to a flaw in the regenerative braking system. This recall essentially covers the majority of Tesla’s sales in the country, as it involves almost all of the vehicles the EV manufacturer has sold in China so far.
China’s market regulator has ordered the recall, citing concerns that drivers might misuse the pedals due to the lack of alerts or intensity settings for the regenerative braking system. Specifically, officials worry that the absence of a revving engine sound could lead to accidents, as drivers may not realize how hard they’re pressing the accelerator.
Tesla has announced that it will fix the problem with a software update that will allow users to customize the strength of the regenerative braking system and receive alerts when pressing the accelerator for too long. The recall affects Model 3 and Model Y vehicles made in China from January 2019 to April 2021, as well as some imported Model 3, Model S, and Model X examples.
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The recall is not the first of its kind for Tesla, as the company has experienced multiple recalls in recent years. Last fall, Tesla recalled over 80,000 vehicles in China due to software and seat belt issues. Although Tesla’s short-term business is unlikely to be significantly disrupted by this latest recall, the long-term impact of such recalls could hurt the company’s reputation.
Tesla has disbanded its PR team and has not commented on the recall. However, this recall is not without controversy, as Chinese drivers have reportedly complained about acceleration and braking issues in the past. In one notable case, a driver used the 2021 Shanghai auto show to highlight a serious crash in which her father was nearly killed due to brake failure. Tesla apologized for the incident but did not acknowledge any glitches and instead noted the high speed before the collision.
The recall is especially significant for Tesla, as the company heavily relies on China for revenue. China is home to the massive Gigafactory Shanghai, which currently produces more than half of Tesla’s cars each year. Tesla cannot afford to alienate either customers or officials, as the Chinese market remains critical to its long-term growth plans.
Tesla’s latest recall of over 1.1 million vehicles in China highlights the importance of paying attention to details in manufacturing and engineering. Although the recall will be addressed through a software update and will not significantly impact Tesla’s short-term business, the impact on the company’s reputation could be substantial. Tesla must work to ensure that its vehicles are safe and reliable, especially in key markets like China, where it has significant investment and growth potential.
