No Tesla Recall in Europe for Now, Dutch Regulator Says

The Dutch vehicle regulator, RDW, has confirmed that there is currently no recall of Tesla cars in Europe related to concerns about doors being difficult to open in an emergency. The statement comes in the wake of China's largest-ever car recall, which included nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles.

China's recall, covering 4.3 million vehicles in total, was prompted by worries that emergency door-release mechanisms could be hard to locate or operate following a crash. The RDW, which serves as the key regulator for Tesla's safety in Europe, said it is monitoring the situation but declined to comment on whether it is considering or investigating a similar action.

In written responses, the RDW emphasized that vehicles must be openable under all circumstances, including electrical failures, in an intuitive way, without tools, from both inside and outside. The agency noted that flush or recessed door handles, a common Tesla feature, are not inherently problematic.

The regulator added that improving emergency door access is currently under discussion within the UN vehicle-regulation framework in Geneva and at Euro NCAP, the independent safety assessment program. This follows recent incidents where occupants or emergency responders struggled to open vehicles after accidents or fires.