Multiple Automakers Implicated in "Battery Locking" Allegations; CCTV Corrects Earlier Report on Eight Firms Being Summoned

On May 14, 2024, in response to recent widespread online reports claiming that "eight new energy vehicle manufacturers were summoned for discussions over OTA battery capacity restrictions and three were formally investigated," relevant media outlets issued a correction notice. Earlier reports had stated that in March 2026, China’s national 12315 consumer complaint platform received over 12,000 complaints in a single month regarding automakers’ OTA-related battery capacity restrictions, sparking public concern. These reports also listed alleged companies that had been summoned or investigated, drawing multiple automakers into a wave of negative publicity. The implicated automakers subsequently issued statements denying they had been summoned or subjected to formal investigations over battery capacity restriction issues. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) also stepped in to clarify, stating that the online claims about "eight automakers being summoned and three being investigated" lacked any official basis and significantly deviated from the facts. CAAM emphasized that information regarding industry regulation and enforcement actions should only be considered authoritative when officially released by competent regulatory authorities. In light of these developments, the original reporting media outlet issued a correction, acknowledging that its earlier wording had been ambiguous. It clarified that, according to incomplete statistics, since 2020, a total of eight automakers have been summoned by regulators over issues including unintended acceleration, battery fires, and problems related to over-the-air (OTA) updates. Among them, three were formally investigated for violations, while two others have withdrawn their controversial OTA update packages and pledged to restore affected vehicles’ original performance.