Behind the Owners' Praise, What Did Zeekr Do Right?

Recently, an owner drove a Zeekr vehicle from Henan, entered Kazakhstan, and after that, smart functions such as vehicle navigation, audio-visual entertainment, etc., triggered backend security risk control strategies, resulting in a strong prompt interface. After the owner posted their experience to social media, it quickly triggered widespread discussion.

It needs to be clarified that this restriction only targets vehicle interface interaction functions. The vehicle's core driving systems such as power, steering, and braking operated normally throughout the journey. There was no situation of "unable to drive". The involved vehicle has completed verification, and the strong vehicle interface prompt has been resolved.

I. Rapid Response: Zeekr Launched Optimization Plan Early in the Morning

Facing user feedback, Zeekr official quickly launched optimization measures early on the morning of July 26. The brand acknowledged that although this vehicle interface restriction was intended to protect user property safety, there was indeed room for improvement in terms of user experience. Based on suggestions from users and netizens, Zeekr immediately promoted function iteration.

This attitude of "treating user voices as an evolution guide" reflects the brand's respect for real feedback. In the era of smart cars, every user feedback could become an opportunity to promote product and service upgrades.

II. Core Measures: Handing Back the Initiative to Users

The optimization plan launched by Zeekr this time is core to returning the "right of choice" to the vehicle owner:

Step 1, the Zeekr App officially launched the "Cross-border Guard" function entry. Owners only need one click to submit, quickly get the verification code, complete self-service unlocking, and significantly simplify the original verification process.

Step 2, the developing "Cross-border Guard Function Switch" will be pushed via OTA. This function will be turned off by default. Before crossing the border, owners can manually choose to turn it on or off on the mobile device according to their needs. If owners actively enable this function, they can still perform self-service unlocking through the App "Cross-border Guard" entry.

Step 3, for users who have already crossed the border or are about to cross the border, Zeekr opened a 24-hour customer service hotline 400-003-6036, providing a priority access channel. If unlocking fails or an emergency occurs, Zeekr will provide remote assistance immediately.

This series of measures balanced security guarantees and convenient experience, realizing the shift from "passive triggering" to "active service".

III. Industry Background: Cross-border risk control is not "overstepping one's authority"

In fact, new energy vehicle enterprises deploying cross-border risk control systems is not redundant control, but a "firewall" to deal with cross-border automotive black and gray industry. In recent years, cross-border theft and robbery of new energy vehicles, dismantling and smuggling chaos are not uncommon. Previously, a flagship model of a new force brand was stolen and then transported overseas. The vehicle was transferred quickly, vehicle interface accounts and filing information were remotely tampered with, leading to owners having no way to defend their rights. Many places have also solved cases of mass new car cross-border loss, behind which are exactly the security loopholes left by the lack of security protection mechanisms.

Industry data shows that vehicle interface restriction is essentially a mature global vehicle security protection strategy of the vehicle enterprise. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Tesla and other global top vehicle enterprises have deployed similar mechanisms. During the Russia-Ukraine war, these brands, lacking backup communication mechanisms and intelligent fault tolerance design, caused the anti-theft system to trigger security control mechanisms due to external signal interruption or interference, thereby forcibly locking the vehicle.

Some lawyers pointed out that vehicle enterprise geographic fencing risk control only restricts vehicle interface entertainment, navigation and other auxiliary functions, and does not intervene in core hardware related to driving safety such as steering, braking, and power throughout the journey. Owners can unlock the restriction after providing materials such as passports, customs clearance certificates, and purchase proofs to complete verification, which does not constitute an infringement of property rights. Conversely, if vehicle enterprises let vehicles flow overseas without control, they will face high administrative penalties from customs.

IV. Safety Bottom Line: Protecting Property and Data Security is a Legal Responsibility

At a deeper level, vehicle positioning trajectories and vehicle-mounted surveying geographic information belong to nationally mandated important data. According to the "Data Security Law", "Several Provisions on the Safety Management of Automotive Data (Trial)", "Guidelines for Automotive Data Outbound Security (2026 Version)", "Surveying Law" and other relevant laws and regulations, relevant data is strictly prohibited from unauthorized cross-border transmission. Geographic fencing risk control is a necessary measure for vehicle enterprises to implement national data security and surveying confidentiality responsibilities. Moreover, in 2026, the domestic implementation of pure electric passenger car export license management system, vehicles without formal licenses are prohibited from flowing out, and vehicle enterprise risk control is also a necessary measure to cooperate with national import and export supervision and avoid compliance risks. In addition, overseas vehicle interface audio-visual and traffic services involve copyrights and local regulations of various places, and disorderly opening functions will also bring compliance troubles to owners.

Zeekr's optimization this time is not a concession to the safety bottom line, but finding a better solution between "safety backstop" and "convenient experience". The risk control logic remains unchanged, but the process is more transparent and the operation is more autonomous, truly achieving "safety not missing, experience not discounted".

V. Advanced Significance: The Inevitable Path for Chinese New Energy Globalization

From a long-term industry perspective, this event was a "stress test" in the process of Chinese high-end new energy vehicle globalization. Currently, domestic high-end new energy brands are accelerating going global, and the huge price difference between domestic and foreign markets creates a huge arbitrage space: Zeekr 009 domestic selling price over 400,000 yuan, Singapore market over 2 million yuan; Zeekr 9X overseas terminals generally mark up 400,000 yuan, Mansory custom modified version overseas selling price reached 400,000 US dollars, equivalent to more than 2.7 million yuan RMB. The huge price difference bonus makes domestic high-end luxury cars the key target of cross-border black and gray industry and illegal resale dealers. Various illegal cross-border reselling, whole vehicle smuggling, and parts dismantling arbitrage behaviors are endless.

Perfect risk control mechanism is exactly the core confidence for Chinese vehicle brands to walk steadily and far. This Zeekr "listen to advice upgrade" made a positive demonstration for the whole industry: safety risk control is not unnecessary restraint, but indispensable infrastructure for Chinese vehicle brands globalization. In the future, with domestic high-end new energy vehicles continuously deepening cultivation of overseas markets such as Southeast Asia, Middle East, Singapore, the industry will surely refer to this optimization paradigm and unify and improve the standardized system of "risk control backstop + user autonomy + convenient unlocking".

VI. Brand Sincerity: User Voices are the Evolution Coordinates

The Zeekr brand, known for global security, is hailed by users as "Highway Tank Zeekr". Not only pursuing leading technology configurations in body structure, intelligent obstacle avoidance, etc., but also walking in the forefront of the industry in privacy protection, anti-lost and anti-theft. But even the best original intention must avoid excessive protection similar to "There is a kind of cold called 'Mom fears you are cold'". Cars are essentially user property, and security strategies should not make users feel disturbed.

Reviewing the past year, Zeekr has continued to transform user voices into brand evolution drivers. From clarifying "model modifications need advance notice and no more than once a year", to launching "Zeekr Zero Distance" communication mechanism, releasing "Sunshine Service Convention", to this morning's rapid launch of "Cross-border Guard" — behind every measure is the sincerity of handing the right to speak back to users. It is this honest communication without evasion or buck-passing that has allowed the Zeekr brand NPS (Net Promoter Score) to rise significantly and formed a strong word-of-mouth effect in the market.

Market recognition is the most real. In the first half of this year, Zeekr cumulatively delivered 178,370 vehicles, an increase of 97% year-on-year, becoming the only enterprise among new force brands to complete more than half of the annual sales target. This is not only the victory of the product, but also the result of the "two-way rush" between the brand and users.

Conclusion

An overseas risk control trigger exchanged for an industry-leading outbound security guarantee system; one user feedback promoted a brand service upgrade. Zeekr proved with action: true "global security" lies not only in the hard protection of the vehicle structure, but more in the reverence for user voices. In the journey towards globalization, Chinese new energy vehicle enterprises need such confidence, and also need such warmth.