Tesla, led by Elon Musk, is undertaking its largest-ever recall in China, affecting 1.6 million vehicles. The recall is aimed at addressing issues with Tesla's autopilot system, specifically related to driver-assistance features that may pose an increased risk of accidents, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. This move comes after a similar recall in the United States last year, involving two million cars for the same problem.
To rectify the autopilot system concerns, Tesla plans to deploy an over-the-air software update to the affected vehicles in China, eliminating the need for physical intervention.
In a separate development, Tesla has revised its range estimates for several Model Y, S, and X vehicles in the United States. Notably, the Model Y’s Performance trim now displays an estimated range of 285 miles, down 18 miles from the previous 303-mile estimate. The Model Y Long Range has been adjusted to 310 miles from 330, and the Model X’s Plaid range has decreased from 333 miles to 326. It's important to note that the entry-level Model Y (Rear-Wheel Drive) with a 260-mile range remains unaffected by these changes.
Tesla has not provided a specific explanation for the lowered range estimates. Internal documents suggest two reasons behind the adjustments. First, Tesla mentions "comfort and functionality improvements" that draw more energy from the battery pack. The second reason involves changes to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing cycle, which now requires tests to be conducted with acceleration and ride height modes in both best and worst-case scenarios, with the average determining the overall range. Tesla claims that this approach leads to "higher consumption and a slight decrease in overall range."
These developments showcase Tesla's commitment to addressing issues promptly through over-the-air updates, while also highlighting the company's ongoing efforts to refine and align its vehicle range estimates with different testing standards.
(With Agency Inputs)
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