China Recalls Millions of Cars Over Hidden Door Handles; Israel Waits for EU Decision
Chinese regulators have ordered millions of vehicles from manufacturers including Tesla, Geely, XPeng, Xiaomi, and others to undergo a recall. The directive mandates two simple procedures: installing a prominent sticker on the "emergency door opening handle" and performing a software update to assist drivers in escaping during accidents. The issue stems from "hidden" or pop-out door handles, first introduced by Tesla, which become inaccessible when a vehicle's electrical systems fail, such as in a crash or fire. A fatal incident involving a Xiaomi electric car in China, where occupants could not escape a fire, prompted the Chinese authorities to act.
The recall requires manufacturers to ensure all cars with these handles have an internal emergency release mechanism, typically a handle or button. However, to address the aesthetic concerns of hidden handles in modern vehicles, regulators are demanding a highly visible sticker be placed on this emergency release. Additionally, the software update aims to automatically slightly open vehicle windows upon detecting a crash, facilitating smoke escape and rescue efforts. This recall is significant due to its scale, affecting seven million cars.
In Europe, the Dutch regulator RDW stated there is no registered recall for Tesla vehicles concerning the door handles, though the matter is under review. Israel's car market, with a nearly 50% combined market share for Chinese brands and Tesla (which manufactures in China), is noted as being more similar to China's than to European markets. Despite this, Israeli consumers have shown a preference for certain Chinese brands like XPeng over MG, which is popular in Europe.
Israel's Ministry of Transport places the responsibility for recalls on vehicle manufacturers and their local importers. Importers must ensure vehicles meet the standards of Europe, the US, and Canada. Since many Chinese manufacturers involved in the recall do not have significant sales in the US or Canada, and if no recall is announced in Europe, Israel typically does not issue one. This policy means that while Chinese authorities are addressing safety concerns, Israeli drivers may be left unprotected. Data from the Ministry of Transport indicates that some Chinese brands, like BYD and Chery, have had recalls in China or Australia but not officially in Israel, despite potential issues like steering wheel problems or brake line defects.
Manufacturers and importers, including BYD's representative, stated that recalls are market-specific and that the issues cited are not relevant to vehicles sold in Israel. They emphasize adherence to manufacturer guidelines and local regulations. The Ministry of Transport reiterated that recalls are the manufacturer's responsibility and are only initiated in Israel if declared by the manufacturer for the European or American markets, or if a serial safety defect affecting Israeli vehicles is officially announced. The article suggests this reliance on European decisions, despite Israel's distinct market preferences, could pose a long-term risk to Israeli drivers.
