Drivers warned of growing fears electric vehicles could be spying on Britons – ‘Everywhere now’
Drivers have been warned of rising concerns Chinese electric vehicles could be potentially spying on Britons through listening devices fitted in the cars.
It comes after Government departments decided to investigate the vehicles which have been used as company cars and military vehicles after fears they could have secret listening devices inside them.
Defence chiefs are now thought to have ordered staff to stop talking altogether while inside the electric vehicles until the problem has been solved.
The Ministry of Defence raised concerns that built-in microphones in Chinese-made electric cars could record and transmit conversations, posing a risk to national security.
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The warning comes after the MoD leased hundreds of Chinese electric vehicles, including models from state-owned Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation’s MG brand, as part of efforts to meet net zero targets.
Under the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate the department hopes to have all new cars electric by 2035, with at least 28 per cent electric this year.
Latest figures revealed how the department currently operates 745 electric vehicles and 1,414 hybrid vehicles in its civilian fleet. The department has also ordered thousands more electric vehicles as part of an ambitious plan to clean up its entire fleet of 12,000 civilian vehicles within two years.
The vehicles have been widely deployed across sensitive locations, from Special Forces headquarters to nuclear submarine bases.
A security source told The Sun: “It’s crazy. A lot of these electric cars are used by senior officers, who know a lot of secrets.”
The source added officers frequently work on sensitive missions and routinely discuss work while driving, particularly when all occupants have the same security clearance.
“They aren’t used to thinking the car might be listening – especially if the car has been issued by the UK MoD,” the source explained.
A second source warned that beyond conversation recording, vehicles can track their movements and have both internal and external cameras. “They build up a pattern of life and identify individuals which can put personnel at risk,” they said.
The Sun also revealed a security notice has been issued across the department specifically banning sensitive conversations in electric cars. “It’s normal to discuss work when they’re driving, especiFally if everyone in the car is cleared to the same level or working on the same project,” the source explained.
The warning reflects growing concerns about potential surveillance capabilities built into Chinese-manufactured vehicles.
An MoD spokesperson responded to the concerns: “Protecting national security is the foundation of everything we do. We have strict security procedures in place to ensure sensitive information is protected.”
But the vehicles’ presence at critical defence locations has sparked particular worry, with a source noting they can be found “everywhere now, from Special Forces headquarters to nuclear submarine bases.”
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Last year, the United States announced plans to ban certain Chinese car parts due to concerns about surveillance capabilities.
Across Europe, one in five electric cars are made in China, with the country having a clear monopoly on the vehicles. Chinese EVs are currently some of the cheapest options for drivers in the UK with the BYD Seagull expected to sell for as low as £8,000, nearly half the price of some UK brands.