By Ma Jingyu and Li Simo
Chinese electric vehicle owners are increasingly complaining that software updates pushed remotely by carmakers are sharply reducing driving range and slowing charging speeds, fuelling concerns over consumer rights and the growing power manufacturers wield through over-the-air software controls.
Drivers say that after receiving OTA — or over-the-air — updates, vehicles originally advertised with ranges of around 500km are now struggling to achieve even 300km in real-world driving. Fast charging times, meanwhile, have reportedly lengthened from about 40 minutes to more than an hour.
The practice, known in China’s auto industry as “battery locking,” involves manufacturers remotely adjusting a vehicle’s battery management system to limit charging capacity or reduce discharge power. Carmakers argue the measures improve battery safety and reduce the risk of fires, but critics say they come at the expense of performance and transparency.
Complaints have surged on Chinese consumer grievance platforms in recent months.
One EV owner surnamed Wang said he first suspected his vehicle had been “locked” after receiving an OTA update early last year. Before the update, he said the battery could take more than 100 kilowatt-hours of charge and deliver a range of roughly 450km to 480km. After the upgrade, the battery would accept only a little over 80 kilowatt-hours and the range consistently fell below 400km.
Yet when Wang took the vehicle to a 4S dealership for inspection, the battery health indicator still showed 95% capacity.
Remote control
Zhang Xiang, secretary-general of the International Intelligent Transport Technology Association, said “battery locking” generally took two forms.
The first involves changing parameters within the battery management system so that charging stops before the battery is full, or so that the system reports the battery as empty before all stored power has been used. This can extend battery life and reduce the likelihood of thermal runaway incidents or fires, Zhang said, but they also reduce the vehicle’s advertised performance.
The second method involves deliberately lowering charging currents, which may improve safety but significantly lengthen charging times.
Wang said the update he received was described only as an effort to “optimise battery management systems and improve operational stability and energy efficiency”. He said he was not informed that the changes could materially reduce charging performance and range.
Consumers can accept safety-related adjustments, Wang said, but carmakers should clearly disclose the consequences before software updates are installed.
The controversy highlights how software has become increasingly central to the economics and operation of modern electric vehicles. OTA updates allow manufacturers to alter vehicle functions remotely long after purchase, giving them unprecedented control over products already in consumers’ hands.
Legal grey areas
Legal scholars say the practice may expose manufacturers to challenges under several areas of Chinese law.
Zheng Fei, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law and a researcher at the Sustainable Transport Innovation Center, said remotely modifying vehicle performance without consent could infringe property and consumer rights. Under Chinese civil law, ownership of a vehicle transfers to the consumer upon delivery, meaning third parties cannot arbitrarily alter the product without permission, Zheng said.
From a consumer protection perspective, owners also have a right to know the true nature of the products and services they purchase, as well as the right to decide whether to accept subsequent services or modifications.
Remote changes to vehicle parameters could also raise issues under China’s personal information protection framework because vehicle operating data is closely tied to user data collected by manufacturers.
Industry analysts say manufacturers nhave strong incentives to introduce such restrictions. According to Zhang, limiting battery charging and discharge can reduce the risk of costly safety incidents while simultaneously extending battery lifespan.
The practice may also reduce warranty liabilities. Many Chinese EV makers promise lifetime battery warranties, making long-term battery degradation a potentially significant financial burden.
Because many OTA parameters are stored in proprietary cloud systems controlled by manufacturers, ordinary consumers often struggle to verify independently whether their vehicles have been remotely restricted.
Regulatory scrutiny
Chinese regulators have begun tightening oversight of OTA updates amid rising public concern.
In March, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued new rules governing remote vehicle software updates.
The measures included four explicit prohibitions: banning “battery locking” that reduces vehicle specifications, prohibiting silent or forced upgrades, preventing companies from using software updates to conceal defects or avoid recalls, and requiring full regulatory filing of OTA updates.
The rules effectively reject the legality of reducing vehicle functionality under the guise of “safety optimisation”.
Zheng recommended that drivers disable automatic OTA updates and switch to manual approval mode to avoid further silent upgrades.
Owners should also preserve screenshots and records of software versions, battery capacity data, driving range figures and charging power information, while seeking independent third-party testing where possible.
Consumers can file complaints through China’s 12315 consumer protection platform or through channels operated by the industry ministry, while market regulators retain authority to investigate companies suspected of violating the rules.
Where necessary, vehicle owners may also pursue civil claims under China’s consumer protection law and civil code seeking restoration of vehicle functionality or compensation for losses.
Source:
China National Radio
