Zeekr Launches "Cross-Border Guardian" One-Click Unlock Function Overnight, Users Praise It

Recently, an event where new energy vehicles purchased domestically triggered security protection strategies due to long-term driving overseas, resulting in restrictions on in-vehicle network related functions, has reached a satisfactory conclusion.

Previously, the car owner triggered the vehicle enterprise's backend risk control mechanism due to the vehicle being long-term located in an overseas area, and smart functions such as in-vehicle audio and video entertainment were temporarily restricted. After the owner posted their experience on social media, it sparked widespread discussion.

In response, Zeekr officially clarified and quickly launched optimization measures early in the morning on the 26th. Zeekr acknowledged that although this in-vehicle restriction was intended to protect users' property safety, there is indeed room for improvement in terms of user experience. Combining feedback from users and netizens, optimization was immediately advanced.

The core measure is to optimize the cross-border security protection experience. The Zeekr App adds an entry point for the "Cross-Border Guardian" function. The owner only needs to trigger it with one click to quickly complete self-unlocking, simplifying the process. The "Cross-Border Guardian Function Switch" currently under development will be pushed via OTA later.

This module has become the industry's first comprehensive cross-border security protection system and is also a typical case of users, netizens, and vehicle manufacturers jointly promoting industry progress.

Official Rapid Response, Step-by-Step Optimization of Security Protection Experience

It is understood that this car owner drove a self-drive journey starting from Henan. After entering Kazakhstan, the in-vehicle system popped up a strong prompt interface, and smart functions such as navigation and audio/video were restricted. The reporter verified that the vehicle's power, braking and other core driving systems were always normal, and there was no situation of "unable to drive". Currently, this vehicle has completed verification, and the in-vehicle strong prompt has been lifted.

After the incident occurred, Zeekr listened to user suggestions humbly, responded quickly to public opinion appeals, and implemented an optimization plan step-by-step, balancing vehicle security protection and car owner usage experience.

The specific optimization plan includes: First, the Zeekr APP officially launched the "Cross-Border Guardian" function entry point. The owner only needs to trigger it with one click to quickly obtain the verification code, complete self-unlocking, simplify the process, and improve response efficiency. Second, the "Cross-Border Guardian Function Switch" currently under development will be pushed via OTA later. After the switch function is launched, "Cross-Border Guardian" will be in the closed state by default. Before going overseas, the car owner can manually choose to open or close it on the mobile phone according to their own needs. If the car owner actively opens this function, they can still perform self-unlocking through the APP "Cross-Border Guardian" entry point. Third, for users who have gone overseas or are about to go overseas, Zeekr has opened a 24-hour customer service hotline (400-003-6036) which will provide a priority access channel. If unlocking fails or an emergency occurs, Zeekr will assist remotely at the first time.

Zeekr side stated that the brand adheres to the original intention of extreme full-domain safety, always puts user experience and safety first, and always attaches importance to every real voice. In the future, it will continue to collect and listen to car owner feedback on a normalized basis, iterate and optimize security risk control strategies and cross-border travel service processes, and continue to find a more perfect balance point between building a security and data safety defense line and optimizing user travel experience.

Reporter Investigation: New Energy Industry Universally Uses Risk Control Design, But Experience Needs Improvement

In fact, new energy vehicle enterprises deploying cross-border risk control systems are not redundant control means, but a necessary guarantee to cope with the current automotive cross-border black and gray industry and protect car owner rights and interests. In recent years, the chaos of cross-border theft and robbery of new energy vehicles, dismantling and smuggling has occurred frequently. Previously, a flagship model of a new force brand was stolen and then transported overseas, the vehicle was transferred quickly, the in-vehicle account and filing information were tampered with remotely, resulting in the car owner having no way to defend their rights. Many places have also cracked down on cases of batch new cars flowing overseas, behind which is the security loopholes left by the lack of security protection mechanisms.

Industry data shows that in-vehicle restrictions are essentially a mature global vehicle security protection strategy of vehicle enterprises. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Tesla and other global head vehicle enterprises have deployed similar mechanisms. During the Russia-Ukraine War, the above brands, lacking backup communication mechanisms and intelligent fault tolerance design, triggered security prevention and control mechanisms due to external signal interruption or interference, thereby forcibly locking the vehicle.

But for a long time, most vehicle enterprises only focus on risk control implementation, neglect user notification and experience adaptation, imperfect processes and non-transparent mechanisms, leading to the general public to produce a misunderstanding that "enterprises overstep their authority and excessively intervene in property rights". Essentially, this kind of risk control logic is the same source as iPhone device positioning anti-theft, electronic fence lock machine mechanisms, the core is to provide a safety net for user property safety, and can be unlocked after user reporting.

Industry and Legal Experts: Security Strategies and User Privacy Protection Are Very Necessary

Many senior figures in the automotive industry interviewed stated that this Zeekr rapid optimization measure has, to a certain extent, promoted the progress of the new energy industry security risk control system.

In the era of smart cars, the core responsibility of vehicle enterprises has long been limited to driving operation safety, but extended to the full-domain security protection system: it includes not only basic driving safety such as steering, braking, and power, but also vehicle property anti-theft safety and car owner personal data privacy safety. Zeekr's optimization of cross-border risk control rules this time is essentially finding the optimal balance point between safety compliance baseline, property protection mechanism and user experience, truly handing back the vehicle control right to users, achieving "safety in place, experience not discounted".

For the viewpoint questioning whether vehicle enterprises have the right to restrict vehicle functions unilaterally. Some lawyers stated: The enterprise's geofencing risk control only restricts in-vehicle entertainment, navigation and other additional functions, and never interferes with core hardware related to driving safety such as steering, braking, and power. After the car owner provides passports,通关 vouchers, car purchase proof and other materials to complete verification, the restriction can be unlocked, which does not constitute an infringement of property rights. On the contrary, if the vehicle enterprise allows vehicles to flow overseas without control, it will face high administrative penalties from customs.

The real feedback of front-line car owners further confirms the necessity of industry optimization. Many Zeekr car owners interviewed stated that they chose Zeekr precisely because they appreciated the brand concept of extreme safety. Relevant industry persons believe that the full-domain electronic fence, cross-border risk control mechanism is a necessary safety configuration for high-end luxury cars, and is consistent with the anti-theft lock machine logic of various digital products. High-end luxury cars have high value and large cross-border arbitrage space, and a perfect risk control mechanism can effectively avoid the risk of vehicles being stolen, robbed, and illegally resold, making daily car use and long-distance cross-border travel safer and more reassuring.

Behind the Controversy: The Inevitable Step for Chinese High-End New Energy Globalization

From the perspective of the long-term trend of the industry, this vehicle enterprise's upgrade measure is the inevitable way for Chinese high-end new energy vehicles to go global. Currently, domestic high-end new energy brand acceleration to go out of the country, the huge difference in price between domestic and foreign markets has formed a huge arbitrage space: Zeekr 009 domestic price is more than 400,000 yuan, Singapore market is more than 2 million yuan; Zeekr 9X overseas terminals generally add 400,000 yuan, Mansory custom modified version overseas price reaches 400,000 US dollars,折合 to more than 2.7 million yuan RMB. The huge price difference dividend makes domestic high-end luxury cars the key coveting target of cross-border black and gray industry and illegal reselling dealers, and various illegal cross-border reselling, whole vehicle smuggling, parts dismantling arbitrage behaviors are emerging.

At the same time, vehicle positioning trajectory, in-vehicle surveying and mapping geographic information belongs to national statutory important data. According to the "Data Security Law", "Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Safety Management of Automotive Data (Trial)", "Guidelines for Automotive Data Cross-Border Security (2026 Version)", "Surveying and Mapping Law", relevant data are strictly prohibited from non-compliant cross-border transmission, geofencing risk control is the statutory responsibility of vehicle enterprises to implement national data security and surveying and mapping confidentiality. And in 2026, domestic pure electric passenger car export license management system will be implemented, and 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 in-vehicle audio and video, traffic services involve copyright and local laws in various places, and disorderly opening of functions will also bring compliance troubles to car owners.

Zeekr brand, known for full-domain safety, is praised by users as "Road Zeekr". Not only does it pursue leading technology configuration in body structure, intelligent obstacle avoidance and other aspects, but it is also at the forefront of the industry in privacy protection, anti-loss and anti-theft. But no matter how good the original intention is, it must avoid excessive protection similar to "there is a kind of cold called mom is afraid you are cold". Cars are essentially users' property, and security strategies should not make users feel disturbed.

This controversy turned from public opinion crisis to industry upgrade opportunity. Zeekr's "listening to advice upgrade" also made a positive demonstration for the whole industry: Security risk control has never been a redundant restraint, but the core confidence and necessary infrastructure for the globalization of Chinese automobile brands. In the future, as domestic high-end new energy vehicles continue to deeply cultivate overseas markets such as Southeast Asia, Middle East, Singapore, the industry will definitely refer to this optimization paradigm, uniformly improve the "risk control bottom-line + user autonomy + convenient unlocking" standardization system.

Looking back at the past year, Zeekr has transformed user voices into the driving force for brand evolution step by step. From clarifying that "model changes need to be announced in advance and no more than once a year" in response to the problem of too fast model change rhythm, to launching the "Zeekr Zero Distance" communication mechanism and publishing the "Sunshine Service Convention" - every measure behind it is the sincerity of giving the right to speak back to users. It is this frank communication that does not avoid and does not shirk that made Zeekr brand NPS (Net Promoter Score) soar greatly, and formed a strong word-of-mouth effect in the market. In the first half of this year, Zeekr cumulative delivery 178,370 vehicles, year-on-year growth of 97%, becoming the only enterprise among new force brands that completed more than half of the annual sales target. Market recognition is the best reward.