Xpeng recalls over 47k P7+ EVs in China over steering defect

Xpeng will recall 47,490 P7+ EVs in China starting September 15 due to a potential steering assist failure, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation.

Loose wire connections in the power steering assist sensors of vehicles produced between August 2024 and April could trigger signal fluctuations, leading to steering assist failure and activation of a warning light.

The recall affects more than 65% of all P7+ units sold by the end of August, based on sales data from ByteDance’s auto unit Dcar.

The P7+ launched in November 2024 as a direct competitor to Tesla’s Model 3, with a starting price of 186,800 yuan (US$26,200).

Xpeng delivered 271,615 vehicles in the first eight months of 2025, more than triple its deliveries year-on-year.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Recall scale suggests deeper quality control challenges in rapid growth phase

Xpeng’s recall affects over 65.5% of P7+ model sales, an unusually high proportion that suggests systemic manufacturing issues rather than isolated defects1.
The affected vehicles were produced between August 2024 and April 2025, indicating the problem persisted across multiple production batches over eight months1.
This recall comes amid Xpeng’s aggressive expansion, with overall deliveries more than tripling to 271,615 units in the first eight months of 20251.
The timing suggests potential quality control gaps during rapid scaling, a pattern seen historically when automakers prioritize volume growth over manufacturing precision.

Chinese EV makers face mounting regulatory pressure over safety transparency

Earlier reports alleged Xpeng attempted to avoid formal recalls by applying sealant during maintenance visits instead of issuing official safety notices2.
These allegations suggest some Chinese EV manufacturers may be testing regulatory boundaries as they compete aggressively on price and market share.
The formal recall announcement follows China’s State Administration for Market Regulation taking a more assertive stance on automotive safety compliance1.
Despite the recall affecting such a large portion of sales, analysts from Morgan Stanley expect only a “manageable impact” on Xpeng’s finances, indicating the market may be pricing in regulatory compliance costs as routine business expenses3.