Countdown to 4 days, Tesla has made a big move! Car owner: It should have been so long ago!

I have long heard that Tesla is going to conduct a large-scale OTA recall in China, but we have not received any updates on the OTA version of the recall so far. Recently, several Tesla imported Model 3 car owners told the Daily Economic News reporter

I have long heard that Tesla is going to conduct a large-scale OTA recall in China, but we have not received any updates on the OTA version of the recall so far. Recently, several Tesla imported Model 3 car owners told the Daily Economic News reporter.

Regarding this, Tesla's relevant staff responded, "The recall has not yet begun. The company plans to officially launch the recall in China on May 29th. At that time, the company will issue OTA upgrade recall online invitations to all vehicles within the recall scope in batches. Car owners only need to click on the upgrade to complete the recall action

Recently, according to the official website of the State Administration for Market Regulation, Tesla Motors (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Tesla (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. will recall some imported ModelS, ModelX, Model3, as well as domestic Model3 and ModelY vehicles produced from January 12, 2019 to April 24, 2023, starting from May 29, 2023, totaling approximately 1.1046 million vehicles.

These are almost all the vehicles we have sold domestically in the past four yearsThe Tesla staff mentioned above confessed.

It is reported that the vehicles within the scope of this recall did not allow drivers to choose energy recovery braking strategies; At the same time, insufficient reminders may not be provided for drivers who have deeply pressed the accelerator pedal for a long time. The combination of the above factors may increase the probability of accidentally stepping on the accelerator pedal for a long time, which may increase the risk of collision and pose a safety hazard.

On May 23rd, Yang Weibin, an expert in the new energy vehicle industry, said in an interview with reporters, "Tesla vehicles were developed by a team in the United States, mainly based on the driving habits of American consumers who pursue power such as high speed and fast acceleration. However, many road sections in China have low speed limits, so it is necessary to optimize and upgrade their functions according to Chinese driver habits and traffic regulations

Actively recalling to reduce the frequency of accidental pedal stepping?

My car is the 2019 imported ModelS, which has always had the option of 'energy recovery braking' mode, but since I picked it up, I have proactively set it to the same 'low mode' as the driving habits of fuel powered cars. "Zhang Qiang (pseudonym) told reporters that before he picked up the car, Tesla sales staff had explained to him the difference between the 'low mode' and 'standard mode' options under the 'energy recovery braking' function.

Image source: Photographed by journalist Li Xing

According to the "Energy Recovery Braking" function interface demonstrated by Zhang Qiang, there are two modes for car owners to choose from: "Standard" and "Low". In "standard" mode, the system provides maximum energy recovery braking. When the accelerator pedal is released during driving, the energy recovery braking reduces the vehicle speed and feeds back the remaining energy to the battery; In the "low" mode, the system provides limited energy recovery braking. When the accelerator pedal is released during driving, the vehicle needs a longer time to slow down and the coasting distance is longer than the "standard" setting.

In fact, Tesla has only started to eliminate the "kinetic energy recovery adjustment option" since the beginning of 2021. The 'forced single pedal mode' is not specific to all Tesla car owners, it is only a unique setting for domestic Model 3 and Model Y models delivered after 2021. A domestic Model 3 car owner told reporters that since 2021, the adjustable force option of 'low energy recovery braking' has been cancelled for domestic Model 3 and Model Y,Force users to use single pedal logic to reduce brake losses and improve battery life.

The Tesla staff mentioned above also stated that during this recall process, the company will provide options on vehicles that do not have the option to choose energy recovery braking intensity, allowing drivers to choose energy recovery braking intensity. At the same time, the company will also adjust the default state of the vehicle's energy recovery braking strategy at the factory.

In Yang Weibin's view, Tesla's recall of returning the option of "low energy recovery braking" to car owners is a more humane expression. The default factory state is the 'low' energy recovery mode, which is the same as the driving habits of fuel vehicles. For inexperienced drivers, it can to some extent reduce the risk of collision. "Yang Weibin said, while for those who prefer single pedal mode or experienced drivers, they can choose the 'standard' energy recovery braking mode to increase the recovery intensity and increase driving range through interface settings.

Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the National Passenger Car Market Information Joint Conference, believes in an interview with reporters that Tesla has initiated this recall in China to avoid the risks caused by users not adapting to the driving habits of single pedal mode. Tesla should give the choice back to users, allowing them to make their own choices based on their driving habits, which can to some extent reduce the probability of car owners mistakenly using the accelerator pedal as the brake in emergency situations. "Cui Dongshu believes.

The person in charge of Tesla emphasized that this recall was initiated voluntarily by Tesla.Misstepping on the pedal is a common cause of traffic accidents, and this update aims to reduce the probability of traffic accidents caused by deep stepping on the pedalThe person in charge of Tesla stated above.

However, Wang Yao, Assistant Secretary General and Minister of Technology of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said in an interview with reporters, "Whether Tesla can reduce the frequency of accidents after this OTA upgrade can only be seen from the follow-up, and currently there is no way to test and obtain results

Car owner: We should have given back our autonomy of choice long ago

In fact, Tesla's unique "forced single pedal mode" has always been controversial, as it eliminates the option of "low kinetic energy recovery braking" and defaults to adjusting kinetic energy recovery to its maximum, with the aim of extending the vehicle's range. In the strong kinetic energy recovery mode, Tesla users can complete acceleration, deceleration, and braking by simply controlling the accelerator pedal, known as the "forced single pedal mode".

Yang Weibin stated that Tesla's single pedal mode design aims to make driving easier while recycling more electricity and extending the vehicle's range. However, car companies cannot simply change drivers' driving habits in order to extend their driving range.

Tesla stated that after this OTA recall, car owners who prefer energy recovery braking can continue to choose the "standard" mode, control their speed through "foot feel", and improve the vehicle's range by 10-20%, reducing brake disc and pad wear. Owners who are not accustomed to this feature can now choose the 'low' mode to transition.

Image source: Photographed by journalist Li Xing

Several imported Tesla car owners stated in an interview with reporters that although they have become accustomed to using "single pedal mode", they still believe that it is necessary for Tesla to launch a recall for vehicles with "mandatory single pedal mode". Whether there is a need or not, it is our own decision,Tesla has no right to make choices for car owners and should have given them back to all car owners long ago.

It is worth mentioning that there have been reports recently that some overseas ModelS and ModelX owners have taken Tesla to court due to their vehicles being upgraded through OTA, resulting in lower range compared to before, with a 20% reduction in maximum range and even a risk of battery damage.

Yang Weibin believes that there is a possibility of a decrease in vehicle range after OTA upgrade. For electric vehicles, whether low energy recovery braking is used or not, the maximum range difference between the two is between 15% and 20%. "Yang Weibin explained that Tesla has fast speed and heavy weight, and it is possible to choose a 20% range difference between maximum and minimum energy recovery.

In early May of this year, during a visit to a Tesla experience center in Beijing, it was discovered that Tesla had added the "energy recovery braking" option through OTA upgrades to its domestic models. After the system update, users can make their own choices based on their driving habits, "a salesperson at a Tesla Experience Center in Beijing told reporters.

New deep step reminder function questioned

Your vehicle is involved in an unfinished recall matter. If the matter involves a Software Update (OTA) recall, simply wait for the new software version to be pushed before downloading and installing it. (Recall) Regarding the software update to add deep pedal reminder and optimize the recovery brake function. "This is a recall message received by Tesla, the owner of the 2020 imported Model 3, Liu Bin (pseudonym).

Image source: Image provided by the owner

Liu Bin told reporters that this push message was received on the same day (May 12th) as the release of Tesla's recall by the State Administration for Market Regulation. His vehicle has always had a "low energy recovery braking" selection function, and this time it is mainly for the recall upgrade of adding a reminder to deeply press the accelerator pedal.

Car owners can open the Tesla app, click the 'Service' button, and confirm whether the vehicle is within the OTA recall range. "The relevant Tesla staff mentioned above stated that if the owner's vehicle is involved in an OTA recall, they only need to wait for the new software version to be pushed, download and install it.

It is reported that in addition to returning the option of "low energy recovery braking" to car owners, Tesla will also add a reminder function when drivers deeply press the accelerator pedal for a long time in accordance with the requirements of the State Administration for Market Regulation. The vehicle emits a reminder when the driver deeply presses the accelerator pedal for a long time, which can enable the driver to react in a timely manner when accidentally stepping on the pedal, "Tesla explained.

However, car owners have different opinions on this new feature. The addition of this feature has no substantive effect.People are so nervous that they may have stepped on the wrong brake. Who could have noticed the sound of the reminder

An imported Tesla car owner stated in the aforementioned WeChat group, "In a tense situation, no warning sound is used. In just a few seconds, Tesla can accelerate to over 100km/h

However, some car owners also believe that adding the above features is necessary. Because to some extent, this reminder can prevent car owners from stepping on the wrong accelerator pedal. However, they also raised their concerns:If every time you step on the accelerator pedal, the vehicle will send a beep, "That's annoying.

However, Yang Weibin stated that Tesla vehicles can reach a maximum speed of 220km/h, and the faster the speed, the longer the braking distance. Especially when the reference object is not obvious, it is difficult for the driver to feel the speed. Long periods of deep stepping on the accelerator pedal can result in the vehicle being in an ultra high speed state. Once an obstacle appears, it will increase the probability of a collision. If the driver can be reminded in a timely manner through flashing or voice reminders, it will help to reduce driving speed and increase safety.

Journalists|Li Xingedit|Pei Jianru; Lu Xiangyong, Du Bo

Proofreading|Cheng Peng

Original article by Daily Economic News nbdnews |

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