German military bars Chinese-made cars from entering sensitive bases

Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, have barred cars made by the Chinese automakers BYD, Geely and Nio from entering sensitive military sites. The reason is concern about the cameras and sensors built into the vehicles, which could gather information. The German magazine Der Spiegel reported the move.

According to the magazine, lists of specific models denied access to security zones are circulating within the army. Soldiers who drive such cars must park outside the premises and continue on foot.

The ministry's explanation

The German Defence Ministry has confirmed restrictions on connected vehicles, but stressed that there is no general ban on particular manufacturers or countries. Ministry spokesman Mitko Müller explained that access rules are set by local security officers, based on the risk level of the facility and the vehicle's equipment, regardless of its country of origin. Cameras, microphones, radars and ultrasonic sensors, which can collect data about the surroundings, are regarded as a potential security risk.

The newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung notes that there is no public evidence of data being sent to Chinese intelligence services. The restrictions are applied as a precaution against possible espionage.

Similar steps elsewhere

Other countries have recently introduced comparable restrictions. In October, the US military barred BYD cars from entering Kadena Air Base in Japan. Poland set restrictions in February on Chinese-made vehicles at military sites unless their recording functions are disabled. In the Czech Republic, the company Orlen Unipetrol denied Chinese cars access to four industrial sites in March this year.

China itself restricted access for Tesla cars to military and government sites in 2021, but lifted those bans in July 2024 after the vehicles passed data security checks.