Zeekr promises less lockouts after Chinese 9X owner gets stranded abroad

Geely’s sub-brand Zeekr has pledged to improve the cross-border remote lockouts implemented on its cars, introducing a passcode generator in the Zeekr app and promising an over-the-air (OTA) update for an opt-out toggle.

This comes as the brand faces scrutiny in China after a Zeekr 9X owner became stranded in Kazakhstan during an overland trip.

Shortly after leaving the Chinese border, the Zeekr 9X’s cross-border lockouts allegedly kicked in, effectively “bricking” the vehicle. The SUV’s screen-based functions, such as navigation, unlocking the glove box, and the electronic fuel door, were turned off for over 30 hours.

The owner claims that his local Zeekr dealer gave the all-clear after being informed of the cross-border trip. The incident prevented him from retrieving documents in the glovebox, and he eventually aired his grievances online regarding his “kneecapped” 9X.

Zeekr responded earlier, claiming that the cross-border lockouts are intended to prevent thefts and smuggling, and confirmed that the 9X in question is no longer “bricked”.

The lockouts may also act as a deterrent for grey market imports. This is commonly seen in Central Asian markets, where only a handful of Chinese auto brands have a visible official presence.

Zeekr’s updates

In its latest response on Weibo, Zeekr has apologised for the incident, summarising that real safety “shouldn’t be solely defined by the manufacturer”, and pledges a new approach of “control by the user & protection by the manufacturer”.

The brand has now introduced a passcode generator in the Zeekr companion app, allowing users to generate their own unlock codes after border-induced lockouts. It’s unclear if drivers can retrieve passcodes without an Internet connection, a common scenario during and after international crossings.

Another change comes with an upcoming OTA update, with Zeekr promising a lockout opt-out toggle in the companion app. Once it goes live, the firm says the cross-border lockouts will remain off by default.

More on Zeekr & China’s overlanders

Overlanding is becoming a trend among Chinese drivers, and cross-border trips from China are expected to grow. Once an activity exclusive to the wealthy and well-connected, overlanding is now accessible to the Chinese public thanks to social media and simplified border controls.

CarNewsChina has contacted customs brokers at the Port of Khorgos, a land crossing between Kazakhstan and Northwest China. Quotes for temporary export permits for Chinese-registered vehicles were as low as 1,500 yuan (about 220 USD).

With document translations and foreign traffic insurance, Chinese overlanders can cross westward towards Russia and Europe, and even pass through the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa.

China’s latest new-energy vehicles (NEVs) have often leaned on the “outdoors” factor, promising a barrage of camping features and a “home away from home”. Their interconnected nature, however, gives automakers unprecedented control over their products, for better or for worse.

According to China EV DataTracker, Zeekr delivered 26,146 units domestically in June 2026, a year-on-year increase of 71.4 %. While this incident isn’t expected to impact Zeekr’s image severely, it may spark conversations about “true” ownership, especially in the age of interconnected vehicles.