U.S. military bans BYD vehicles from Okinawa air base

The U.S. military has restricted vehicles manufactured by Chinese automaker BYD from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. The ban, which took effect on October 26, targets one of the largest U.S. Air Force installations in the region due to security concerns.

This move follows broader Western scrutiny regarding the smart technology integrated into Chinese-owned brands like BYD, MG, and Jaecoo. Security officials have raised alarms that components such as GPS, microphones, cameras, and Bluetooth connections could be exploited by state actors for espionage. In June, the Pentagon added BYD to a blacklist of 188 Chinese military companies, prohibiting direct procurement.

Similar security vulnerabilities have been reported in Norway, where rental cars used during military exercises were found to have recorded video of soldiers, patrol patterns, and security codes. In that instance, vehicles from the brand Deepal were involved. The data collection capabilities of modern smart vehicles have become a central focus for defense officials seeking to mitigate risks of unauthorized data access and surveillance.