British military personnel have been informally instructed to avoid parking electric vehicles (EVs) containing Chinese-made components near sensitive defense installations, amid growing concerns over potential surveillance risks tied to advanced automotive sensors and data access laws in China.
According to UK news outlet The iPaper, service members at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire have been advised to park EVs with Chinese parts at least two miles away from critical buildings. Similar informal restrictions are reportedly in place at other locations, including the Salisbury Plain training area. The guidance also includes recommendations to avoid holding sensitive conversations inside Chinese-manufactured vehicles, citing concerns about embedded technologies such as cameras, radar, and other sensor systems.
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These concerns stem from Chinese legislation that grants the government legal access to data collected by locally produced devices, raising alarms over how such data might be exploited. The restrictions are not limited to vehicles from Chinese brands such as BYD, Great Wall Motors, MG, or Omoda, but also extend to any EVs using Chinese-made components or technology.
While no formal ban has been confirmed, the issue has been acknowledged in recent parliamentary discussions. Lord Coaker, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, stated: “Our policies and procedures take account of the potential threats from all types of vehicle, not just those manufactured in China, and we have issued appropriate internal direction to all drivers and passengers.”
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He added that some defense organizations may apply more stringent measures based on location, but declined to provide further detail for security reasons. “We do not provide specific details for security reasons,” Coaker said.
The Ministry of Defence echoed this position, offering a general statement: “Protecting national security is the foundation of everything we do. We have strict security procedures in place to ensure all sensitive information is protected.”
Conservative Shadow Security Minister Alicia Kearns criticized the perceived lack of decisive action, warning that the current measures may not go far enough. “The military and government know the risks of Chinese espionage, but we cannot maintain our security with half-hearted measures,” she said. Kearns has called for the full removal of Chinese-made EVs from government and military fleets.
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China has imposed similar restrictions on Tesla vehicles in recent years, banning them from military bases and government properties over concerns that the U.S. could access sensitive data through the company’s sensor networks.