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| Chinese EV brand BYD has become popular in the UK (Photo by Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images) |
https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/other/uk-warned-more-than-a-year-ago-about-chinese-ev-spy-threat-but-has-done-little/ar-AA1EyV4k
The UK was warned about the espionage risks and threats to national security from Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) more than a year ago but has “done little” to counter it, The i Paper can reveal.
Warnings from the US about the potential threat posed by Chinese EVs helped prompt the UK to effectively ban Chinese vehicles from Ministry of Defence sites.
However, the UK government has held back from following the lead of the US in banning the import of EVs from China despite warnings from Washington that the tech-laden cars could even threaten lives, according to a document seen by The i Paper.
A defence industry source suggested that the UK had not followed the US lead in banning Chinese-made EVs due to a lack of ability to develop its own mass-manufacturing industry.
“The UK was told about the US concerns and its intention to ban Chinese vehicles over a year ago,” said the source. “However, the government has done little to act on the warnings, and that’s got to be down to a lack of investment in the UK’s EV manufacturing base.”
In March 2024, then-Conservative ministers in the Department of Transport received information that the US was planning to ban the import of Chinese-made EVs over national security concerns.
The document sent by the former administration of President Joe Biden to UK officials sets out the risks posed by EVs and other “connected vehicles”.
The warning, which came from the US Department of Commerce but included input from Washington’s National Security Agency, claims that China “likely represents the broadest, most active, and persistent cyber espionage threat to US Government and private-sector networks”.
It also suggested that Chinese EVs “could potentially result in severe consequences to US persons and critical infrastructure” by listening in to conversations, and allowing a vehicle’s autonomous functions to be controlled from Beijing.
The document even suggested that remote access to vehicles from Beijing could threaten lives of US citzens.
“While integrated functionality may provide seamless communication, comfort, and operability for the consumer, it is possible that unauthorized remote access to a particular sensor system could be escalated to vehicle systems and operations, potentially resulting in injury, loss of life, and disruption to critical infrastructure networks”, the briefing stated.
The document also pointed to China’s National Intelligence Law, under which homegrown companies are required to cooperate with state intelligence work upon request, meaning sensitive data from overseas nations could be handed over to spies in Beijing.
The US briefing to the UK and other allies stated that “due to the vast amounts of data generated by their products”, Chinese-made EVs “are notable targets for government access” and that they represent “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the US”.
More than 200 automakers operating in China are, the document said, “legally obligated to transmit real-time vehicle data, including geolocation information, to government monitoring centres”.
President Joe Biden’s administration issued the warning more than a year ago, but it is understood it was not until Sir Keir Starmer won a landslide for the Labour Party in July that action was taken to protect the UK from potential espionage by the Chinese state.
US ban on Chinese EVs
In January this year, the outgoing Biden administration implemented a law to ban all Chinese-made EVs from the US by the beginning of 2027. There has been no indication from President Donald Trump that he will overturn the move.
As The i Paper previously revealed, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has banned cars relying on Chinese technology from sensitive military sites across the country. In some cases, the MoD has asked staff to park their EVs at least two miles from their workplace.
The UK’s leading defence firms are advising also staff not to connect their mobile phones to Chinese-made EVs over fears that Beijing could steal sensitive national security data.
It is understood that the government continues to work across Whitehall departments and with allies like the US to further understand the risks associated with EVs and fossil-fuelled vehicles.
A spokesman for the UK government said: “We continue to actively monitors threats and work with allies like the USA to further understand the risks in this area.”
Of the 66 EVs car brands on sale in the UK, 13 are from Chinese manufacturers. These include BYD, Geely, MG, Ora, Polestar, Volvo and XPENG.
After just two years in the UK market BYD holds the same 1.8 per cent of the UK car sales market at Elon Musk’s Telsa, which has been operating here for 12 years.
Rising popularity of Chinese EVs
In 2024, 94,168 new cars from Chinese brands were sold in the UK, representing almost one in 20 of total sales.
The government spokesman added: “We will never compromise our national security and are continuing to strengthen our infrastructure and supply chain resilience to protect UK economic security.”
Following last week’s outline trade deal between the UK and the US, there is also speculation that Trump may put pressure on Starmer to ban Chinese EVs.
The government has strenuously denied claims that the trade deal allows the US a veto on any potential Chinese investment into the UK.
The White House was asked for comment.
