Chinese Electric Vehicles Prohibited from UK Military Bases Over Concerns They Are Monitoring Activities | Carscoops

      Given the concerns over espionage, the UK is implementing restrictions on Chinese electric vehicles and those with Chinese components near sensitive locations.

      UK military personnel are advised against parking electric vehicles (EVs) that contain Chinese parts in proximity to important sites. The apprehensions arise from Chinese laws that allow government access to data gathered from EV sensors. The Ministry of Defense aims to "mitigate any potential threats to national security from vehicles."

      While electric vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated, their extensive array of sensors has raised alarm. Today’s EVs are equipped with cameras, radar, and other technologies that could theoretically gather sensitive information. With these factors in mind, UK military staff have been discreetly instructed to avoid parking Chinese component-rich EVs close to military installations.

      Furthermore, officials have been warned against having confidential discussions inside vehicles manufactured in China, due to fears of possible surveillance.

      UK legislation provides the Chinese government with legal access to data collected from the cameras, sensors, and radar in domestically produced EVs. This situation has raised concerns for UK officials regarding the potential misuse of such data. The restrictions apply not only to Chinese brands like BYD, Great Wall Motors, MG, and Omoda but also to any electric vehicle that uses Chinese-made parts or technology.

      Base Restrictions Implemented

      According to insider information reported by UK outlet The iPaper, personnel at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire have been instructed to park EVs with Chinese components at least two miles away from crucial structures. Similar limitations are reportedly in effect at the Salisbury Plain military training area.

      While these measures have yet to be officially announced, they have emerged in parliamentary discussions. Lord Coaker, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defense, noted that the government is collaborating with other departments to "understand and mitigate any potential threats to national security from vehicles."

      Coaker was careful not to focus exclusively on any single nation, stating: “Our policies and procedures take account of the potential threats from all types of vehicle, not just those made in China, and we have issued the necessary internal guidance to all drivers and passengers. There are no centrally mandated policy restrictions on the movement of vehicles manufactured in China.”

      A Call for Stricter Regulations

      He also recognized that certain defense organizations may impose their own stricter regulations based on location, but added: “We do not disclose specific details for security purposes.”

      The Ministry of Defense refrained from confirming or denying the restrictions, instead issuing a general statement: “Protecting national security is the foundation of everything we do. We have strict security procedures in place to ensure that all sensitive information is safeguarded.”

      Conservative Shadow Security Minister Alicia Kearns criticized what she perceives as insufficient action. “The military and government understand the risks of Chinese espionage, but we cannot ensure our security with half-hearted measures,” she stated. Kearns has urged for a complete transition away from Chinese-made EVs in both government and military fleets.

      Such bans are not unprecedented. In recent years, China has enacted similar restrictions on Tesla vehicles, broadening the ban from military personnel to include government contractors, local officials, highway operators, exhibition centers, and cultural institutions. In that instance, concerns revolved around the U.S. government potentially obtaining geographical and environmental data from Tesla vehicles.