Zeekr remotely turned off the driver’s navigation and locked several doors because he crossed China’s border. “The anti-theft systems”

A certain Zeekra 9X buyer decided to drive it from China to Europe. As soon as he crossed the border into Kazakhstan, the car instructed him to contact a Zeekra dealership for verification and also blocked the navigation system, access to the trunk, and the electronic fuel filler cap. Since the 9X is a plug-in hybrid with a large battery (55.1 or 70 kWh), we assume the owner might have been driving on electricity and the remaining fuel. The systems were unlocked after 30 hours, following contact with a manufacturer representative.

Theft prevention systems as anti-owner systems – good or bad?

The Zeekr 9X is the manufacturer’s largest and most expensive SUV, available only in a plug-in hybrid version. It features a 2-liter turbocharged electric motor with a maximum power output of 205 kW, along with three electric motors driving the wheels, each with a maximum power of 1.03 MW. Weighing just over 3 tons, it has a fuel tank that holds only 50 liters of gasoline, so it’s easy to estimate that a full tank and fully charged battery provide it with around 600-700 kilometers of real-world range. Meanwhile, the route in Kazakhstan had to span several thousand kilometers.

The network of electric vehicle charging stations in Kazakhstan looks somewhat similar to Poland’s Supercharger map (c) PlugShare

The electric powertrain of the Zeekr 9X (c) Zeekr / Geely

The owner of a Zeekr 9X performed a pre-trip check on the vehicle and inquired about its suitability for travel, but received no warnings. However, after eight days of driving and crossing into a country outside China, he saw a message on the screen stating that he needed to contact Zeekr’s after-sales service to obtain an authentication code. He lost access to the fuel filler, glove box, and navigation system. According to a response from the manufacturer to the media, the charging port cover also became stuck, and the issue was resolved after slightly over a day (source).

The owner of a Zeekr 9X in Kazakhstan was overjoyed to be traveling in such a modern and technologically advanced car.

Zeekr claims this is a standard industry mechanism for preventing theft, smuggling, and controlling vehicle exports. It also emphasizes that no critical driving subsystems (such as powertrain or brakes) are disabled. The fuel filler cap can supposedly be unlocked by holding down the hazard light button for five seconds, while the charging hatch can be opened simply by pressing it with a finger. Once the driver authenticates themselves, they receive a code that unlocks all inactive systems. The next lock may appear... after crossing another border.

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