China Just Reminded the Auto Industry That a Door Handle Has One Job
By a driver who would very much like to escape the car after the computers stop cooperating I have apparently reached the stage of modern life where I must ask whether my car door will continue being a door during an emergency. That feels like a low bar. I am not asking the vehicle to compose a symphony, interpret my dreams, or negotiate a better insurance rate while I sleep. I simply want the part designed to let me out of the car to let me out of the car—especially after a crash, when the electricity may be gone, the cabin may be filling with smoke, and my fine-motor skills may have taken the afternoon off. Yet here we are. China has launched the largest automotive recall in the history of its market, covering about 4.3 million vehicles made by nine automakers. Tesla represents the largest share, with roughly 2.98 million vehicles involved. Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Geely Holding, and other manufacturers are also part of the action. The concern is not some obscure software setting bu...
