EU GPS speed‑limiter proposal and Chinese Zeekr SUV lockout spark driver concerns

The European Union is assessing a proposal to make GPS‑based speed limiters mandatory in new cars, aiming to curb speeding and improve road safety across member states. The system would automatically adjust vehicle power or issue alerts when a vehicle exceeds the speed limit of the road it is traveling on.

In a separate incident, a Chinese‑made Zeekr 9X SUV blocked key functions for more than 30 hours after its owner drove the vehicle from China into Kazakhstan. The anti‑theft system, designed to prevent illegal export, disabled the navigation, fuel‑tank opening and charging port, leaving the driver stranded until a manual workaround was found. Both cases highlight growing driver concerns over automated vehicle controls that can limit autonomy.