Tesla Model 3 hit by faulty cruise control

Tesla will apply an over-the-air software fix to more than 285,000 electric vehicles in China – most of them Tesla Model 3 cars – over issues involving unintended activation of its cruise control.

The fault was discovered after owners reported accidental acceleration to China's State Administration for Market Regulation, which ordered the fix.

In certain scenarios, drivers said shifting into a gear, or accidentally touching the gear selector, instantly activated the cruise control, causing the car to surge forwards.

Claimed to involve 35,665 imported Model 3 EVs and a further 249,855 Model 3 and Model Y cars that were built in China, affected vehicles will receive a free mandatory over-the-air update that should fix the issue.

The cars do not have to be returned to the dealer.

Tesla has publicly apologised using its Weibo social media account, posting: "We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our car owners. In the meantime, Tesla will strictly follow national regulations and keep improving our safety protection, adamantly providing an excellent and safe driving experience to our customers."

Tesla sales in China have wobbled in China recently, which is thought to be linked to five regulatory agencies questioning the quality of the Model 3. Concerns have also been levelled at the US car-maker over grounds of national security.

This saw sales of Tesla cars fall in April to fewer than 26,000 cars, down 27 per cent from March. The drop in numbers occurred while rival Chinese car-makers NIO, Xpeng and Li Auto all reported improvement in the number of deliveries.

Despite the fall, China remains Tesla's second-largest market by volume.

There's no word yet on whether Model 3 or Model Y cars in Australia and other markets are impacted by the same software glitch.