(Yicai Global) Feb. 18 -- Tesla Shanghai will recall 26,000 made-in-China Model 3 and Model Y electric cars due a risk of collision when the vehicles are being used in cold weather and a lack of adequate software to resolve the problem.

Small movements can affect the heat pump electronic expansion valve of the cars when conducting positioning operations, and the in-vehicle software lacks the functions to remedy this, according to a bulletin released on the website of the State Administration for Market Regulation today.

That could result in failure of the in-car heating function and there is a safety hazard as this would cause sub-standard defrosting and reduced visibility, it said. 

The recall involves 12,000 Model 3 units and 14,000 Model Y units. 

Affected owners will not need to take in their cars as Tesla Shanghai said it will correct the glitch in the software with an over-the-air update. For the vehicles whose software problem cannot be corrected this way, Tesla will contact the owners through its service centers where they can update the software for free to eliminate safety hazards, the bulletin said. 

Editor: Peter Thomas