Changan Automobile Denies "Battery Locking" Practices

Changan Automobile's Executive Vice President Yang Dayong stated on Thursday that the company has never engaged in "battery locking" practices for its electric vehicles. "We have never discussed battery locking in any internal meetings, and no leader has ever requested it," Yang told the media during a communications meeting.

Yang highlighted Changan Automobile's 164-year history, asserting that the company has always operated with pragmatism. He suggested that implementing such practices would lead to "endless trouble," and instead, the company resolves issues through "technology, promises, and service."

The issue of electric vehicles having their battery performance limited via over-the-air (OTA) updates has drawn significant public attention. By March 2026, China's 12315 consumer complaint platform reportedly received over 12,000 complaints related to "battery locking" from OTA updates, a 273% year-on-year increase.

"Battery locking" refers to the practice where automakers remotely alter battery management system parameters through OTA updates, without explicit consumer consent, to restrict charging capacity or power output. This can result in reduced driving range and slower charging speeds. In response, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Administration for Market Regulation issued joint guidelines in March 2026 prohibiting such practices through software updates.