"Even Electric Vehicles Manufactured by Western Countries
Could Be Vulnerable If They Use Chinese-Made Communication Components"
A UK government agency has released an analysis warning that electric vehicles may be vulnerable to Chinese espionage activities, posing a threat to national security.
The British daily The Telegraph reported on the 17th (local time) that the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) raised concerns that China could eavesdrop on conversations of electric vehicle occupants. The report pointed out that the issue is not limited to Chinese-made electric vehicles. The laboratory concluded that even electric vehicles manufactured by Western countries could be vulnerable to Chinese eavesdropping if they contain Chinese-made components.
On the 4th, visitors are touring the BYD exhibition at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show held at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News
DSTL analyzed the security risks of electric vehicles in connection with the UK government’s plan to replace all 40,000 government vehicles with electric vehicles by the end of 2027. This report was delivered to the Conservative government before the UK general election in July last year. Previously, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the UK government commissioned this report out of concern over China’s dominance in the electric vehicle market as it moved to convert official vehicles to electric and other eco-friendly vehicles.
The laboratory also viewed gasoline vehicles that transmit various vehicle-related data via wireless networks as a threat, not just electric vehicles. It determined that such vehicles could be used as tools for Chinese espionage. Commenting on this analysis, a Conservative Party official told the media, "Electric vehicles are essentially moving spy equipment," adding, "The amount of information that can be collected from electric vehicles is enormous, and in particular, there is a possibility that conversations inside the vehicle could be leaked."
The UK government has maintained its policy of converting government vehicles to zero-emission vehicles. It has not introduced a separate policy banning the purchase of Chinese-made electric vehicles.
However, it has been reported that the British military has banned electric vehicles containing Chinese-made components from entering certain military bases. Charles Parton, a China expert and special advisor to the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, warned, "Not only Chinese-made vehicles, but also vehicles equipped with Chinese-made telecommunications equipment should not be used," adding, "If ministers have conversations inside these cars, they could end up in Chinese hands."
Previously, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers had planned to build overseas factories in response to tariffs imposed by the United States and the European Union (EU), but there have been reports that the Chinese government has blocked these plans for security and geopolitical reasons, creating obstacles.
The Chinese authorities have warned that tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump have increased risks to trade and investment, and have suspended approval for BYD and Geely to produce electric vehicles in Brazil and Mexico. As a result, while the tariff war may not prevent Chinese electric vehicle makers from entering the global market, analysts say the Chinese government wants these companies to take a more cautious approach when selecting regions for expansion.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
