The Ministry of Defence has reportedly banned electric vehicles with Chinese components from sensitive military sites across the UK amid fears over cybersecurity.
Staff at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire must now park their EVs made using Chinese technology at least two miles away from key buildings. Similar restrictions apply at Salisbury Plain training area, Britain’s largest defence training site.
The i paper reported that RAF Wyton is particularly significant as it houses the UK’s premier military intelligence hub, with officials from all Five Eyes alliance members.
The site includes the Pathfinder Building, which is believed to house one of the world’s largest spy facilities. The Ministry of Defence parking directive is not applied across all military sites, only selected sensitive locations.
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Experts have warned that Chinese technology could pose risks to the most secure military sites across the UK
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Senior officials allegedly became alarmed when they realised EVs driven by personnel might be tracked, with sensors potentially collecting intelligence to send back to Beijing.
They claim the disclosure could also raise concerns among some EV buyers who are increasingly turning to Chinese brands like BYD due to their affordability and longer range.
Nearly all major EV makers use Chinese components, with modern EVs coming equipped with cameras, sensors, radar and internet connectivity that could be used for remote surveillance by Chinese companies.
Defence Minister Lord Coaker acknowledged in Parliament that certain sites have stricter rules regarding Chinese-manufactured EVs. Last month, military chiefs were ordered to stop having conversations in electric cars over fears they could be recorded and transmitted.
Shadow Security Secretary Alicia Kearns said the UK “cannot sacrifice” national security in pursuit of environmentally friendly technology.
She urged the Government to make a “full pivot” away from Chinese-produced EVs in military and Government fleets. She told the i paper: “We know the risks, now we need to act fast to protect ourselves from them.”
Similarly, cybersecurity expert James Bore explained that EVs constantly report data back to manufacturers and service providers, which increases the potential for “misuse” by “adversaries”, particularly at sensitive sites.
“By their nature, electric vehicles tend to be more modern, they have more technology and intelligence in them, and almost all of them will report back to the company that runs them,” he said.
A former senior civil servant reportedly described modern EVs as “basically a big collection of sensors on wheels”. In 2023, a Chinese tracking device was found in a UK Government car during a security sweep, with at least one SIM card capable of transmitting location data being discovered in Government and diplomatic vehicles.
The geolocating device had been placed into a vehicle inside a sealed part imported from a supplier in China and installed by the vehicle manufacturer.
A spokesperson for the MoD said: “Protecting national security is the foundation of everything we do. We have strict security procedures in place to ensure all sensitive information is protected.”
UK intelligence sources indicated EVs could also be used to record audio and video, both inside and outside vehicles. One source noted: “Most cars now are connected via the mobile network.”
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Drivers have reportedly been told to park away from the facilities
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There is increasing concern over Beijing’s ability to conduct espionage and sabotage operations on UK soil, with Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith being a particularly prominent critic.
