BYD Australia investigates vehicle hacking allegations

BYD Australia has launched an investigation into allegations regarding the security of its connected vehicles following a report by ABC’s Four Corners program. The report demonstrated that a cybersecurity expert could gain remote access to a BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute after two weeks of testing, allowing for the tracking of location, eavesdropping on phone calls, and disabling headlights.

Stephen Collins, Chief Operating Officer of BYD Australia, stated that the company is taking immediate action to review claims involving unauthorized remote access to certain non-critical vehicle functions. He emphasized that customer safety is the company’s absolute priority.

The incident has prompted calls for new legislation regarding connected vehicles in Australia. Shadow Minister for Defence James Paterson raised concerns regarding data sovereignty, noting that electric vehicles manufactured by Chinese companies are subject to Chinese national security laws, which may require them to assist intelligence agencies with data collection.