Chinese regulators recently met with Tesla executives after several government agencies reported an “unusual acceleration” in complaints from consumers about battery fires and other quality issues with the company’s electric cars.
In a post on Chinese social media platform WeChat, the state administration for market regulation said officials from five government agencies interviewed Tesla executives and “asked them to strictly comply with Chinese laws and regulations, strengthen internal management and improve quality and implement company safety regulations. ”
Tesla recognized its “flaws in the business process” and agreed to improve the quality and safety of its vehicles, the regulator said in the release.
The electric car maker has struggled with quality issues as it increased its production from tens of thousands of cars a year to 500,000 in 2020. On social media, customers have documented numerous problems with the new Tesla, including large gaps between body panels, poor paintwork and broken glass. These complaints were confirmed in surveys and reviews of the company’s cars by JD Power and Consumer Reports.
Some of the issues cited by Chinese regulators aren’t unique to Tesla. The potential for fires in the large batteries that power electric cars has forced other automakers to recall cars. General Motors recalled Chevrolet Bolt electric cars from the 2017-2019 model years in the U.S. in November because they could catch fire under certain conditions. Tesla has previously said that its models are less likely to catch fire than other cars.
Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday, but the company’s executive director Elon Musk recently admitted quality issues with its popular Model 3 sedan in an interview with Sandy Munro, an auto industry consultant.
Last week, Tesla recalled 135,000 vehicles in the U.S. to address a touchscreen issue on its S and Y models. It was found that the screens had a high error rate. Tesla had initially refused to recall the cars but was pressured by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
In a letter to the US security agency last month, a Tesla executive said the screens that drivers use to control many functions of their cars shouldn’t last more than five or six years.
