KATHMANDU: Chinese premium EV maker Zeekr has apologised after one of its flagship 9X SUVs locked several key functions when its owner drove the vehicle out of China, leaving him unable to access the fuel filler cap for more than 30 hours.
The incident involved a Chinese owner, identified as Mr. Liu, who had set off on a road trip from China to Europe in his newly purchased Zeekr 9X. According to reports, the vehicle activated its anti-theft system as soon as it crossed into Kazakhstan.
The system disabled several features, including the in-car navigation, glovebox and electronically operated fuel filler cap. Although the SUV remained drivable, Mr. Liu was unable to refuel until he received assistance from the company.
Zeekr said the restrictions are part of a security system designed to prevent vehicle theft and illegal cross-border smuggling. While the fuel filler cap and charging port can still be opened manually using specific procedures, the company acknowledged that most owners are unlikely to know these hidden functions.
The restrictions were eventually removed after Zeekr sent an authorisation code to the vehicle. However, the company said similar authorisation may be required each time the vehicle enters a new country.
Following criticism, Zeekr issued a public apology and announced changes to the system. The company has added a passcode generator to its smartphone app, allowing owners to unlock restricted functions themselves after crossing a border. It also plans to release an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will let users disable the cross-border lockout feature.
Zeekr already sells vehicles in several overseas markets, including Europe, where such location-based restrictions are reportedly not applied due to frequent cross-border travel.
