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Eight electric vehicle manufacturers, including BYD, Tesla, Xpeng, and Li Auto, have denied reports claiming they were summoned by Chinese regulators following complaints from users about remotely restricting battery capacity through over-the-air software updates.
The other four automakers to refute these claims on May 9 were Nio, Aito (a brand developed by Seres Group in partnership with Huawei Technologies), Zeekr (a premium division of Geely Holdings), and GAC Aion, GAC Group’s next-generation electric vehicle branch.
CCTV News reported that consumer complaints related to OTA battery locking on China’s 12315 platform surpassed 12,000 in March, marking a 273% increase from the previous year. This surge prompted regulators to summon eight car manufacturers, with three placed under investigation for regulatory violations. In response, two companies withdrew disputed update packages and promised to restore vehicle performance.
Later, CCTV News amended its report to state that since 2020, the eight automakers had been summoned over various issues including abnormal acceleration, battery fires, and OTA update practices—not solely for battery locking.
Battery locking involves using over-the-air updates to limit charging and discharging capabilities in order to lower the risk of spontaneous combustion and hide inherent quality issues, often without informing vehicle owners.
According to Liu Yan, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the association conducted inquiries with regulators and involved companies regarding circulating claims. He clarified that no enforcement actions—such as summons or legal filings—had been taken related to this matter. Liu emphasized that online rumors lack official backing and are inconsistent with verified facts.
Battery locking has been a persistent source of consumer protests, with approximately 280 complaints active on Sina’s Heimao platform and nearly 45,700 reports on the vehicle quality website Chezhiwang.
Experts warn that automakers implementing battery locking without clear disclosure may be violating consumer rights to information and choice, as protected by China’s Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests. If safety defects in batteries prompt such restrictions, companies are required to address the issues through recalls or similar measures instead of obscuring faults with software updates, according to Sun Yuhao, a senior partner at Shanghai Haihua Yongtai Law Firm.
In February, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, alongside the State Administration for Market Regulation, issued guidelines mandating standard practices for OTA updates, explicitly prohibiting the use of software upgrades to hide vehicle defects or dodge liability.
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