UK confirms no MOD ban on Chinese electric vehicles

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that there are no centrally mandated restrictions on the movement of Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles (EVs) onto military barracks or training areas, despite growing concerns over potential security risks.

The response came after Conservative peer Lord Robathan submitted a written question asking whether the UK Government had imposed any restrictions on Chinese-made EVs at MoD sites.

Defence Minister Lord Coaker addressed the issue, stating that while the MoD is actively assessing security threats related to all vehicles, there is no overarching policy restricting the movement of Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles onto military property.

“The Ministry of Defence takes the security of defence assets very seriously and is working with other Government Departments to understand and mitigate any potential threats to national security from vehicles.”

He emphasised that the government’s security approach applies to all vehicles, not just those manufactured in China.

“Our policies and procedures take account of the potential threats from all types of vehicle, not just those manufactured in China, and we have issued appropriate internal direction to all drivers and passengers.”

While there is no blanket restriction, the minister acknowledged that individual defence organisations may have stricter rules regarding electric vehicles on certain sites.

“We are aware that individual defence organisations may have stricter requirements relating to electric vehicles on some sites, but we do not provide specific details for security reasons.”

This suggests that localised security policies could be in place at certain sensitive military locations, even though there is no formal, MoD-wide directive.

The issue of Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles and their potential security risks has been a growing area of concern in Western defence and intelligence circles.

Several countries, including the United States, have raised alarms over the data-collection capabilities of modern EVs, particularly those manufactured by Chinese firms. Many Chinese EVs are equipped with advanced connectivity features, including GPS tracking, sensors, and software that could theoretically collect and transmit data remotely.

In the UK, concerns have been voiced about whether Chinese-manufactured vehicles used on military sites could pose a cyber or intelligence risk, particularly near critical infrastructure. The MoD’s response stops short of outlining any explicit concerns about Chinese EVs but indicates that threat assessments are ongoing and that internal security protocols are in place.