EU Lawmakers Question BYD Vehicle Security Risks
Fourteen European Parliament members asked the Commission to assess whether the Chinese carmaker's cars pose a threat, after a US military ban on the brand.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Fourteen members of the European Parliament submitted written questions asking the European Commission to have the EU cybersecurity agency assess the threat posed by BYD vehicles. The move follows a US military ban on BYD cars at Kadena Air Base on Japan's Okinawa island, which cited an unacceptable and unmitigable risk.
Why it matters
Lawmakers argue that China's 2017 national intelligence law requires companies to cooperate with the state, raising concerns about data access in connected vehicles. BYD says no data it processes or stores can be remotely accessed from China.
Fourteen MEPs filed written questions seeking a threat-level assessment of BYD, with the European Commission typically required to respond within six weeks. Whether the review will lead to any restriction on BYD vehicles has not been determined.
The players
BYD
BYD is a Chinese carmaker that builds electric vehicles and operates a production facility in Hungary, with more plants planned in Europe.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union, responsible for proposing and enforcing EU law and now asked to respond to lawmakers on BYD.
Francois Kalfon
Francois Kalfon is a French member of the European Parliament who wrote to Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu urging measures against Chinese connected-vehicle spying risks.
The details
The questions ask whether BYD should be included on a list of high-risk suppliers. Separately, Norwegian soldiers found that Chinese vehicles rented during a military exercise filmed them and their access codes to military bases, and French lawmaker Francois Kalfon wrote to Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu urging measures to contain spying risks from Chinese connected vehicles.
Timeline
2017: China's national intelligence law takes effect, requiring companies to cooperate with the state.
September 2026: The European Commission proposes new public tender rules.
October 2026: The US military bans BYD vehicles from Kadena Air Base.
November 4, 2026: MEPs submit written questions to the European Commission.
Roadmap
The scrutiny of BYD reflects a broader debate over whether Chinese-made connected vehicles can be trusted in sensitive settings as Chinese automakers expand into Europe. The question extends from China's 2017 national intelligence law, which requires companies to cooperate with the state, into the electric vehicle market.
Drivers and fleet operators considering Chinese connected vehicles may face new scrutiny over data access and vehicle security. Organizations handling sensitive work, including military bases, may restrict or review the use of such cars.
The takeaway
Connected vehicles raise data-security questions beyond traditional car safety, and buyers and institutions are increasingly weighing where a vehicle's data is stored and who can access it.
What happens next
The European Commission is expected to respond to the lawmakers' written questions within about six weeks of November 4, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Electric Vehicles section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reuters.
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