US military to bar Chinese BYD vehicles from Kadena Air Base in Japan

The U.S. military will ban electric vehicles made by Chinese automaker BYD from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa starting Oct. 26, citing concerns that connected cars could collect and transmit data. The restriction may later extend to other U.S. bases in Japan and South Korea.

The U.S. military will bar electric vehicles made by Chinese automaker BYD from entering Kadena Air Base in Japan starting Oct. 26. The restriction at the base on Okinawa covers private cars as well as taxis, delivery vehicles and contractor vehicles, and security personnel will be instructed to turn away all BYD-brand vehicles.

Kadena hosts aircraft, radar systems and munitions and serves as a key hub for regional security operations in the Asia-Pacific. U.S. officials are concerned that connected vehicles could gather information through their cameras and sensors and transmit it remotely, and the decision on BYD was made as part of that security assessment.

A BYD electric vehicle

In June, the Defense Department added BYD to its list of Chinese companies it believes support China's military. The restriction could later be expanded to other U.S. military facilities in Japan and South Korea. About 50,000 American troops are stationed in Japan and about 39,000 in South Korea.