Last checked September 2026.
Modern cars are computers on wheels, and Chinese cars are among the most connected of all. That has raised questions in Parliament, the military and the press: can a Chinese car spy on you, and could it be switched off remotely? Here is what is actually known, what the rules say, and what you can do about it.
What data does a connected car collect?
Almost every new car, whatever its badge, collects some of this:
- Location: GPS position and navigation history.
- Cameras and sensors: the cameras used for driver assistance, parking and 360-degree views.
- Driver monitoring: an interior camera that checks you are paying attention, now required on new cars.
- Microphones: used by the voice assistant.
- Phone data: contacts and messages if you connect your phone, and data from the brand’s app.
- Vehicle data: battery health, faults and usage, used for over-the-air updates.
What the UK government says
- There is no ban. In March 2025 a defence minister confirmed there is no central Ministry of Defence ban on Chinese electric cars.
- Some sites have local rules. In 2025 it was reported that staff at RAF Wyton were told to park vehicles with Chinese components well away from the base and not to discuss sensitive matters in them. The rules applied to cars with Chinese parts, not just Chinese brands.
- Work is ongoing. In April 2026 a minister said MoD policy takes account of threats from all types of vehicle, and cross-government work on issues such as connectivity and remote shutdown continues.
For ordinary drivers, there is no official advice against owning a Chinese car.
What other countries have done
- United States: rules in force since March 2025 ban connected-car software linked to China or Russia from 2027 models and hardware from 2030 models. In practice, this keeps Chinese-brand cars off sale in the US.
- European Union: no ban. Car data is covered by GDPR and the EU Data Act, and every new car must meet cybersecurity and software-update rules (UN R155 and R156) to be approved for sale. The same UN rules apply in the UK.
What the brands say
BYD says data from European customers stays in Europe, stored on Google Cloud, with connectivity from Orange. Its privacy policy says the driver-monitoring camera has a physical cover, voice data is only recorded when you activate the assistant, and 360-degree camera images are processed in the car. Other brands publish privacy policies on their UK websites; read them before you buy if this matters to you.
How to protect your privacy in any connected car
- Read the privacy settings in the car and the app, and switch off data sharing you do not need.
- Think before connecting your phone. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto share less with the car maker than pairing your contacts to the car’s own system.
- Cover or disable the interior camera where the car allows it.
- Delete your data before selling the car, with a factory reset, and remove it from the app.
- Use the voice assistant sparingly if you are concerned about microphones.
The bottom line
Chinese cars must pass the same cybersecurity and data rules as every other new car sold in the UK, and there is no ban or official warning for private owners. Concerns about data are real but apply to connected cars generally. If you work in defence or another sensitive role, check your employer’s policy. For everyone else, sensible privacy settings matter more than the badge on the bonnet.
For more on how Chinese cars measure up, see our guides to safety ratings, who owns each brand and whether Chinese cars are any good.
Frequently asked questions
Can Chinese cars spy on you?
Like all connected cars, they collect data such as location and camera footage. They must meet the same UK and European cybersecurity rules as other cars, and there is no evidence made public of Chinese cars being used to spy on UK owners.
Are Chinese cars banned from military bases?
There is no central MoD ban, but some sites have local rules, and staff at one RAF base were reportedly told to park vehicles with Chinese components away from the base.
Where does BYD store UK customer data?
BYD says European customer data stays in Europe, on Google Cloud.
Why are Chinese cars not sold in the US?
US rules ban connected-car software and hardware linked to China, which in practice keeps Chinese-brand cars off sale there.