Tesla Recalls 1.6 Million Cars in China to Fix Self-Driving Systems

The Chinese government announced on Friday that Tesla would recall practically all of the cars it has sold in the country to adjust their assisted-driving systems, less than a month after a similar recall in the United States.

To address the problems, Tesla will transmit updated computer software to its 1.6 million cars in China, the State Administration for Market Regulation said.

The updated software involves “adding additional automatic assisted steering control,” the regulator said. It also said that Tesla would remind customers to pay attention to their driving and follow all regulations even if they use the so-called Autopilot capabilities.

Three weeks ago the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington ordered a recall to make sure that drivers will remain attentive while using Autopilot.

While Tesla’s autopilot system is designed for highway use, American regulators have been increasingly concerned that many drivers are using it on local roads, and are failing to keep their hands on the steering wheel.

China’s regulator has in the past insisted that companies conduct the same recalls in China that they announce in other markets.

Tesla did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The recall marks a setback for Tesla as China has emerged as the world’s largest and fastest-growing market for electric cars. More than a third of the cars sold last year in China were either battery-powered electric cars or plug-in hybrid gasoline-electric cars, up from only 5 percent three years earlier.

Tesla has shown itself as the only Western automaker that can compete with Chinese manufacturers in the global electric car sector.

Chinese electric car companies are rapidly increasing their share of the