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Israel Recalls Chinese Electric Cars From Army Over Spy Tech Risks

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Photo of Ivan Khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
BYD ATTO 3 showcased at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo ahead of the public opening. Illustrative photo. (Source: Getty Images)
BYD ATTO 3 showcased at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo ahead of the public opening. Illustrative photo. (Source: Getty Images)

The Israeli military has begun withdrawing Chinese-made electric vehicles from its service fleet due to security concerns, according to 9TV on November 2.

The decision was issued by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi following an internal security assessment that identified potential risks of data leaks from electronic systems installed in some Chinese vehicles. The process is expected to continue until the end of the first quarter of 2026.

According to 9TV, the withdrawal will first target vehicles used by officers with access to classified information, after which it will expand to the rest of the fleet. Around 700 cars are affected—most of them seven-seat Chery models provided to officers with large families.

Israeli security services determined that some Chinese-made vehicles are equipped with cameras, microphones, sensors, and communication modules that could transmit data to external servers—sometimes without the knowledge of the driver or the local importer.

“The issue is not just cameras and microphones,” a former senior IDF officer told reporters. “A modern car is essentially a computer on wheels with a closed operating system and wireless connectivity. It can collect intelligence from nearby facilities.”

The IDF has already prohibited officers from entering military bases with Chinese-made vehicles, citing security protocols. The military declined to comment publicly on the recall decision.

Analysts note that Israel’s move follows similar restrictions in the United States and the United Kingdom, where Chinese technology has been banned from high-security areas.

Earlier, a Chinese Type 815 Dongdiao-class surveillance ship was spotted shadowing joint US–Australia naval drills near the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The vessel reportedly followed the USS Fitzgerald and HMAS Ballarat during Maritime Cooperative Activity exercises, raising concerns over electronic intelligence gathering by China’s PLAN.

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