Israel’s Defense Ministry has halted the distribution of BYD electric vehicles to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel following security concerns about potential data transmission to Chinese servers.
The decision affects planned deliveries of BYD Atto 3 electric vehicles that were intended for IDF lieutenant colonels. These cars underwent electronic inspection before the ministry decided against deploying them operationally.
This suspension follows earlier acquisitions of over 600 Chinese electric vehicles, including MG ZS EV and Chery Tiggo 8 models, which had been serving as official transportation for military officers, including operations near the Defense Ministry’s Tel Aviv headquarters.
Security Measures and Expert Warnings
To address immediate security risks, Israeli authorities disabled the e-Call emergency communication systems in previously delivered vehicles. However, cybersecurity professionals argue these measures are insufficient.
Dr. Harel Menashri, co-founder of Israel’s internal security service (Shabak) cybersecurity division, characterized Chinese vehicles as “mobile intelligence platforms.” He warned these cars possess capabilities to gather and transmit multiple types of sensitive information, including audio recordings, video footage, location data, and biometric information directly to Chinese-controlled servers.
The move reflects broader cybersecurity concerns that have prompted warnings from Israeli security experts about the espionage potential of Chinese-manufactured vehicles and their integrated communication technologies.
This development aligns with similar cybersecurity concerns across various sectors, as Chinese technological infrastructure continues to raise intelligence gathering questions in multiple countries.
