Hi everyone,  
I own a Skoda Karoq imported from China (Oct 2024 production)
Has anyone successfully flashed EU firmware or used an adapter like Carlinkit? Any advice would be amazing!  
Thanks! 

On 13/05/2025 at 23:26, HAM84 said:

Skoda Karoq imported from China (Oct 2024 production)

Why import a Chinese build/spec Škoda to France?

On 13/05/2025 at 23:26, HAM84 said:

Hi everyone,  
I own a Skoda Karoq imported from China (Oct 2024 production)
Has anyone successfully flashed EU firmware or used an adapter like Carlinkit? Any advice would be amazing!  
Thanks! 

As far as I have seen they come with a zone restriction in the system so you might not be able to alter it sadly

32 minutes ago, Petesowerby said:

As far as I have seen they come with a zone restriction in the system so you might not be able to alter it sadly

Thinking about it, there is a LOT of firmware in cars these days. It is not just the language, which is fairly easy to change, but different countries have different requirements on all sorts of things. Everything is "coded" to the car. Most modern cars now have over 150 MCU's (computers) in them, all with their own firmware and coded "id". That is, a Chinese ABS unit may l have a different electronic signature and ID to a European one. Some can be re-flashed, others can't. Even the ones that can, you are going to have trouble finding the firmware.

Then you have the problem with the insurance..... "has this car been modified" to which the answer is "yes some unqualified person not working for VAG changed all the software." This will invalidate your insurance or raise the premiums A LOT. Remember, your insurance will have to cover the cost if you have an accident that kills for example 4 people or the ongoing medical costs of your passengers.....

So it will cost you a LOT either way. IF they can get out of it because you didn't tell them, then you carry the cost personally.

Edited 18 May, 20251 yr by chills

Is this correct about the wheelbase even with a 2024 model?

Here are the pictures of the dashboard and the infotainment system.

Thank's

Merci a vous

2 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Is this correct about the wheelbase even with a 2024 model?

This would suggest that there will be a lot more physical differences. Therefore, different parts, compared to the European versions, with different (incompatible?) firmware .

I worked with this outfit for a while (before they were taken over by PTC) https://www.ptc.com/en/products/pure-variants who, well over a decade ago, said that using their version management system no two Audi cars were identical. This would easily;y permit VAG to have efficient multiple variants across the whole VAG range. We know there are parts common to Škoda, Audi and VW

This easily permits, as does conditional compilation and SW version management, the production of software and firmware variants for different markets. Therefore, the firmware produced for the Chinese models could be different from that used anywhere else. This could be designed to stop the Chinese exporting the cars. Either the factory via a cousins company, or adventurous distributors due to price differences. The problem is, legitimate dealers outside China won't deal with them. Well, not officially, maybe for a cash incentive?

Cars these days are extremely complex electronics and software. The mechanical stuff is fairly straightforward, but you need to plug in a computer to do anything.... So buying a foreign car is nowhere near as sensible as it once was.

On 16/05/2025 at 20:17, chills said:

Why import a Chinese build/spec Škoda to France?

More to the point is does it have EU type approval?

3 minutes ago, Lee01 said:

More to the point is does it have EU type approval?

NO.