Tesla’s China recall: Your hands can be on the wheel — but your eyes must be on the roadLast updated: August 22, 2026 | 20:293 MIN READThe Tesla logo is displayed at a Tesla dealership.AFPTesla is recalling 2.74 million China-built Model 3 and Model Y vehicles after regulators concluded that detecting a driver’s hands on the steering wheel is not enough to ensure they are watching the road. The remedy will use the in-cabin camera to monitor driver attention during assisted driving, marking a major expansion of camera-based supervision in Tesla’s second-largest market. Free over-the-air software updateThe recall, effective immediately, will be resolved by a free over-the-air software update. It applies to Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built in China from March 4, 2019, through Dec. 7, 2025, as per Electrek.Get it: Fast, verified news for FREE ... download the Gulf News app — simply click here What regulators foundChina’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said Tesla’s existing driver-attention system was inadequate when vehicles use Autosteer and enter “combination driving assistance” — China’s regulatory term for Level 2 driving automation.Level 2 systems can help steer, accelerate and brake, but they do not make the car autonomous. The driver remains legally and practically responsible for supervising the vehicle and taking control whenever necessary.Steering-wheel torque