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Some of Britain’s most secure military sites are restricting access to electric cars over concerns that Chinese technology embedded within the vehicles could be used for spying.
Staff at RAF Wyton — an air base in Cambridgeshire that houses intelligence operations — have been told to avoid parking EVs near the base in case sensors on the vehicles can be remotely monitored, according to Ministry of Defence officials.
The site is among several that have restricted access for the vehicles, though the department declined to provide a full list for security reasons.
Last month, defence minister Lord Vernon Coaker told parliament there was no “centrally mandated policy on the movement of Chinese manufactured vehicles” but that some sites have specific rules.
“We are aware that individual defence organisations may have stricter requirements relating to electric vehicles on some sites, but we do not provide specific details for security reasons,” he said in a written answer.
“Our policies and procedures take account of the potential threats from all types of vehicle, not just those manufactured in China, and we have issued appropriate internal direction to all drivers and passengers,” he added.
Virtually all EVs contain Chinese parts, in part because of China’s lead in battery technology and sensors. There are concerns that battery management units, onboard diagnostics or sensors used to aid driving could all be exploited to gather sensitive data or enable remote surveillance.
The Ministry of Defence declined to outline which sites were affected.
“Protecting national security is the foundation of everything we do,” it said. “We have strict security procedures in place to ensure all sensitive information is protected.”
The restrictions align with broader western concerns regarding Chinese technology, which is widespread in critical infrastructure.
Intelligence agencies have warned that certain Chinese-manufactured systems could be used to collect telemetry, location data, and even audio recordings.
The UK previously vowed to remove equipment from telecoms company Huawei from government buildings, and to exclude its equipment from the next-generation 5G internet network across the country.
Concerns over modern cars being used for espionage have been voiced for some time. In 2021, China banned Tesla cars — which are equipped with multiple cameras — from entering military complexes over concerns the sensors could be used to gather intelligence.
The Financial Times reported earlier this year that the Ministry of Defence’s security manual was recently updated with guidelines that military personnel must avoid having conversations about sensitive subjects in vehicles, or near smart technology, a policy that “applies to all vehicles, regardless of type or origin”.
One UK official added: “We continue to work across government on the potential implications of connected vehicles.”