Leading electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla is set to release software upgrades for 1.2 million of its EVs in China due to critical faults.
According to the recall notice issued on 24 January, the fix has to do with power steering issues and rear-view cameras affecting some domestically manufactured and imported models.
The steering wheel issue is caused by a software problem that can cause the electronic power steering system to fail, while the rear-view cameras could cause poor visibility when reversing, both of which can lead to serious accidents.
A major concern
The problem is said to have affected 1.2 million of Tesla’s EVs sold in China, which amounts to half of the total number of cars it has sold in the country so far. This makes it a major concern for authorities.
To fix the faults, Tesla will deploy an over-the-air software fix to 871,087 domestically produced Model 3 and Model Y vehicles for the power steering failure.
It will also deploy a fix for 335,716 mix of Model S, X, 3 and Ys for the rear-view camera issue. As the software upgrades will be done remotely, there’s no need for the car owners to do anything.
However, for those who are not able to get the fix remotely, they will be contacted for the fix at no cost to them.
A prompt response is critical because China is one of the largest markets for Tesla, but it is also full of competition. Last year, China became the first country in history to manufacture 10 million electric cars in one year.
Other similar recalls
This is not the first time Tesla has had to fix faults in its vehicles. The company made such a recall earlier this month for 240,000 of its cars in the U.S.
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