US military bans BYD vehicles at Kadena Air Base in Japan

The United States Air Force has prohibited BYD vehicles from entering the Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japan. The ban, which took effect on October 26, applies to personal vehicles, taxis, delivery vehicles, and those belonging to contractors and subcontractors.

Lieutenant Colonel Alli Stormer stated that these vehicles pose an “unacceptable risk that cannot be mitigated” to personnel and mission execution. While specific technical vulnerabilities were not detailed, concerns center on the advanced electronics in modern vehicles—such as 360-degree cameras, sensors, GPS, and wireless connectivity—which could potentially facilitate data leaks or intelligence gathering.

Brigadier General John Gallamor made the decision following risk assessments. Currently, Kadena is the only US military base in Japan to implement such a ban. The move follows the US Department of Defense's previous designation of BYD as a company linked to the Chinese military and its contribution to China's military-civil fusion industrial base.