Chinese regulators have ordered automakers to submit proactive recall plans for defects identified through self-audits, expanding oversight after Tesla and eight Chinese electric-vehicle makers announced fixes affecting a combined 4.3 million vehicles on Aug. 21 in China’s largest-ever automotive recall. The recall was prompted by concerns over electronically operated hidden door handles and emergency-release mechanisms, which may be difficult to identify or fail during an electrical outage, delaying escape or hindering rescue. Tesla accounts for nearly three million vehicles, while Xiaomi, XPeng, Geely and other Chinese manufacturers account for more than 750,000 combined. The new year-long campaign requires comprehensive reviews of quality, reliability, durability, supplier controls and new-technology validation, as well as audits of advanced driver-assistance and autonomous-driving systems, functional safety, cybersecurity, data security, software updates, incident monitoring and emergency response. Automakers must report to local authorities by the end of 2026, promptly file recall plans with the market regulator and conduct voluntary recalls of defective products. Separately, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers warned that "irrational competition" could undermine production consistency, product safety and the industry’s high-quality development as weaker domestic demand and a prolonged price war pressure automakers to prioritize quality and long-term competitiveness.