Worries that smart EVs could monitor drivers or even be remotely controlled has alarmed security experts
June 21, 2025 at 15:10
- China’s EV price war has created domestic bargains the West can only dream about.
- Models like the Mazda EZ-6 sedan and Toyota bZ5 SUV cost less than $25k in China.
- Security professionals are concerned about the spying opportunities for China’s govt.
Shopping around for insurance quotes for my 17-year-old learner driver son here in the UK, I found several companies offering cover at half the price of the big names. But when I re-ran the quotes again to see how much the premiums would change when he’d passed his test, the ‘bargain’ policies had ballooned to 10 times the price of the other initially more expensive rivals.
Also: Mazda’s Sportier 6e Sedan Launches With A Price Tag That Feels Like A Typo
Now some experts claim that China’s bargain EVs might also come with a hidden cost buyers won’t discover until much later – or until it’s too late.
Experts Worry About Compromising Security
The difference is that the claimed cost wouldn’t be financial, but made up of data and control. Some security professionals have raised concerns that the modern generation of ‘smart’ Chinese EVs could potentially allow carmakers and hackers, or more specifically China’s ruling forces, to spy on drivers, monitoring where they go, what they do, who they communicate with and about what.
A few experts have gone further, warning that smart EVs could even be remotely controlled, which could cause chaos in busy cities if they were immobilized, or even enable bad actors to use cars as remotely-operated weapons. It’s concerns like these – and not just fears for the longevity of America’s domestic auto industry – that prompted the Biden Administration to increase tariffs on China’s EVs.
In the UK, military and intelligence bosses were ordered this year not to discuss any sensitive work issues while riding in EVs, and vehicles containing Chinese components are now banned from some military facilities, BBC News reports.
When In Rome (Or Beijing)…
But it’s easy to see how buyers, particularly in China, would be seduced by the bargain prices of a modern EV. While the People Republic’s EVs look good value in Europe, a big chunk of their advantage has been nixed by import tariffs. But in their home market, which is in the grip of an aggressive price war, buyers must think it’s Christmas every time they check out a local dealership.
Mazda’s stylish new EZ-6, is a BMW 3-Series rival but is priced from only ¥161,800 ($22,500), and Toyota’s bZ5 SUV starts at just ¥129,800 ($18,100) – half the price of Tesla Model Y . Cars like these offer a huge bang for the buck if you’re willing to take the chance on the security risk.
Also: Chinese EVs Banned From Military Sites Amid Fears They’re Watching Every Move
The Chinese government claims there is no risk, telling BBC News that accusations of espionage were “absurd” and made without any supporting evidence, and that businesses operating abroad are required to comply with local laws. That view is supported by some independent security experts who suggest China and its carmakers want to maximize economic growth and aren’t Bond-level bad guys obsessed with surveillance.
Would security concerns put you off buying a Chinese EV, or would the lure of a $20k price be too much to overlook?
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