On the afternoon of August 4, multiple users discovered that the IM L7 car App could no longer be searched for or downloaded from Apple's China App Store.
An IM L7 official customer service representative stated that staff are already handling the issue, and users will be contacted once a follow-up plan is confirmed. However, the representative did not explain the specific reason for the unavailability or the expected restoration time. For users who only have an iPhone and urgently need the app, the customer service suggested finding an Android phone, then calling the 400 hotline to request an installation link from a "butler."
As the wave of intelligent technology advances, car apps have evolved from simple auxiliary tools into core hubs and "digital engines" connecting people, vehicles, and daily life. According to不完全统计, since the start of 2025, more than ten car brands have experienced various app malfunctions. Incidents of "App crashes, owners stranded" are becoming increasingly common.
On August 4, some users who updated the IM L7 iOS app to version 3.2.0 (internal build number "2608031656") noticed a black floating button on the left side of the page. Clicking it opened a full English developer debugging interface. This interface allowed users to view the app's network request endpoints, status codes, local file storage, phone model, system version, and crash logs. Some users, upon discovering the anomaly, uninstalled the app but could not re-download it from the Apple Store. Speculation suggests that IM L7 may have accidentally uploaded a development test version and then urgently pulled the installation package upon discovering the error.
The IM L7 customer service team confirmed that relevant staff are handling the matter. For users with only an iPhone who cannot re-download the app, they suggested using another phone to receive a link from a "butler." However, the representative did not clarify what the "butler" service entails or whether the link would point to an iOS or Android installation channel. When asked if finding an Android phone was necessary, the representative confirmed this and said to call the 400 hotline again to request the link.
The IM L7 app handles functions such as Bluetooth key, remote air conditioning, seat heating, tire pressure monitoring, and OTA upgrades. This removal primarily affects users who have changed phones, uninstalled the app, or are installing it for the first time. IM L7 has not publicly stated whether existing users can continue to use the app normally, whether the anomalous version requires an update, or what alternative solutions are available for owners who cannot use the phone key. As of around 9:00 PM on August 4, IM L7 had not made any public statement regarding the app's unavailability in the Apple Store, the debugging interface issue, or the timeline for its return. By approximately 10:00 AM on August 5, the app was again searchable in the Apple Store under version 3.2.1, updated nine hours earlier.
Car app malfunctions are not unique to IM L7. Since the beginning of 2025, more than ten companies have experienced app failures. On January 9, 2025, BYD's app crashed nationwide due to server overload, leaving owners unable to unlock their vehicles for about 30 minutes. On March 15, Li Auto's app experienced a third-party map service interface failure. On March 21, apps for Great Wall Motor's brands, including Wey and Haval, went down for an hour due to a cloud server communication anomaly, leaving many owners nationwide stranded without keys. On April 16, Leapmotor's app suffered a service failure that prevented owners from unlocking their vehicles, which was fixed about one hour later. In April, XPeng's app had a functional failure that prevented vehicles from being unlocked and locked properly. On April 29, apps for Geely, Lynk & Co, and Zeekr collectively malfunctioned due to a cloud server crash. On May 2, Neta experienced a 48-hour network outage affecting 15 provinces. On May 13, Geely Galaxy's app crashed again due to "network fluctuations from the operational service provider." In July and November, Jiyue's app showed vehicles as "offline," making remote control functions unavailable. Additionally, XPeng has faced issues where operator network parameter anomalies caused the vehicle's system to lose internet connectivity and the app to lose remote control functions.
Entering 2026, car apps continue to experience failures. On June 29, 2026, a large number of NIO owners reported on social media a widespread system failure. The term "NIO owners stranded" quickly became a trending topic. The crash, primarily affecting the Apple version, caused the app to immediately close when opened, preventing users from accessing the control interface. A new energy vehicle owner told a reporter that car apps have long surpassed simple "remote control" functions, becoming a core hub connecting users to their vehicles. These apps now encompass over 30 functions, including remote vehicle control, battery health monitoring, charging station search, real-time location, tire pressure alerts, maintenance scheduling, online payments, points redemption, and OTA upgrades.
According to reports, app crashes are not accidental. Main causes include server overload, over-reliance on a single cloud service provider (where a failure of that provider can paralyze the app), and program errors or system bugs. The latest research data shows that as of March 2026, the monthly active user base for smart car apps reached 96.58 million, a massive user base and usage frequency indicating that car apps have become fully integrated into owners' daily lives. However, a vehicle is not just a larger "digital toy"; it is a mode of transportation involving public safety. When a single bug can prevent an owner from entering their car, no amount of "advanced" smart features can compensate for a poor experience. Although the state has issued multiple standards to regulate "digital keys," most are recommended rather than mandatory, and they primarily focus on technical specifications, with little attention to "soft" requirements like failure emergencies, service continuity, and corporate responsibility.
The "owner stranded" incidents expose a common weakness in the smart electric vehicle industry: "valuing digital over physical." Some companies are more willing to invest in high-end value-added services and user community operations, but they cut back on investment in basic safety redundancy, stable software operations, and emergency response mechanisms. The China Society of Automotive Engineers suggests that car companies should establish a "dual backup system" to ensure that basic vehicle control is still possible through local computing if the app crashes. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is planning to introduce a "Mandatory Backup Standard for Smart Vehicle Data Security," requiring the retention of 30 days of local data. Industry experts advise that owners should not overly rely on apps; even if their vehicle supports a Bluetooth key, they should still keep a physical key.
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