Tesla recalls hundreds of imported Model 3 cars in China in another trouble with quality issues

Name: Shocking moment Tesla Model S explodes in a Chinese car park
Uploaded: 2021-06-03T13:15:17.000Z
Duration: 1 min 25 s
Description: Shocking moment Tesla Model S explodes in a Chinese car park

US carmaker to recall imported Model 3s produced in 2019 for seat belt, loose bolts issues, China’s market regulator said in a statement

Tesla’s sales in China slipped 27 per cent in April from March amid its troubles with consumers, regulator

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Part of an interior view of a Model 3 seen at a Tesla outlet in a shopping mall in Beijing on May 26, 2021. Photo: AFP

Daniel Ren

Published: 9:15pm, 3 Jun 2021Updated: 10:34pm, 3 Jun 2021

Tesla is recalling more than 700 imported Model 3 electric vehicles sold in mainland China over quality issues, adding to a series of missteps in the local market that could dent interest in the nation’s top-selling electric cars.

The State Administration for Market Regulations said on Thursday that 311 of the cars manufactured in 2019 from January 12 to November 20 were found to have seat belt issues, posing injury risks to passengers in the event of a collision.

Another 423 cars built by the California-based carmaker between February 2 and November 20 that year are also being recalled due to loose bolts that could cause tyre-related problems while heightening risks of collision, the market regulator added in the statement.

The recall represents embarrassing publicity for its China business after several public spats with consumers, local media and regulators over the quality and safety of its electric vehicles (EVs). That may have contributed to a slide in sales so far this quarter even, as local rivals NIO and Xpeng have not fully capitalised on its misadventures.

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Shocking moment Tesla Model S explodes in a Chinese car park

“The latest recall could deter more mainland consumers from buying its cars because they are battered by worries over quality and safety issues,” said Chen Jinzhu, chief executive of Shanghai Mingliang Auto Service. “It will be a tough year for Tesla to expand its market share in China.”

The affected imported units made it to the mainland market as Tesla’s popularity grew abroad. The rising demand prompted chief executive Elon Musk to splash US$2 billion on its Gigafactory 3 in Lingang near Shanghai to capture local demand. Tesla began delivering its Shanghai-made Model 3s in January 2020, and Model Y SUVs earlier this year.