Poland Bans Chinese Cars From Military Sites Over Spying Fears

The idea that cars might spy on people sounds like something from a box office thriller or a Jetsons cartoon, but Polish officials have recognized the real espionage risk associated with Chinese smart vehicles. Polish officials on February 17 banned Chinese-made vehicles from entering sensitive military facilities, recognizing that modern vehicles are more than just a method of transportation. They are capable of collecting, storing, and transmitting vast amounts of information.

The decision places Poland among a growing number of nations — including the United Kingdom and Israel — recognizing the national security risks posed by the integrated digital technologies within modern vehicles.

Chinese EVs Pose Espionage and Data Theft Risks

Following a risk assessment of the integration of digital systems in modern vehicles, the chief of the general staff of the Polish Armed Forces prohibited Chinese-produced motor vehicles from entering protected military facilities. The new policy also banned all government and military officials from connecting their mobile phones to vehicle infotainment systems in Chinese-made cars. 

Smart vehicles are equipped with telematics, cameras, microphones, GPS tracking, Bluetooth, and cellular connectivity, all potential avenues for China and other adversaries to collect sensitive information from the car’s surroundings. In the notice announcing the decision, spokesman Col. Marek Pietrzak noted that for this reason, “Their presence in protected areas requires appropriate security regulations.” Pietrzak emphasized the importance of enacting precautionary measures “consistent with practices employed by NATO countries” to ensure the highest level of protection for defense infrastructure.

Growing Chorus of U.S. Allies Take Action Against Chinese Vehicles

Poland’s actions follow similar steps by other U.S. allies concerned about the security risks posed by Chinese-made automotive technologies. In April 2025, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense banned Chinese-made electric vehicles, and vehicles with Chinese components, from military sites, citing concerns that Beijing could exploit cameras, sensors, radar, and internet connectivity for intelligence collection.

Four months later, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) banned all Chinese-made vehicles from entering military bases, citing similar concerns. Belatedly, in November, the IDF also reportedly started recalling all Chinese vehicles it had leased to senior officers.

The U.S. intelligence community has repeatedly warned that Beijing may disrupt critical infrastructure — including transportation infrastructure — to degrade America’s ability to respond to Chinese military aggression. If China builds the vehicles, however, its hackers do not need to find hidden vulnerabilities. The manufacturer can embed backdoors, providing Beijing’s cyber operators with the access they need to cause disruption. In fact, concerns that Beijing could remotely operate and disable Chinese-made vehicles prompted Norway, Demark, and the United Kingdom over the past year to launch investigations into Chinese-made electric buses.

Washington Should Ban Chinese Vehicles From Military Areas and Limit Their Sale

To address the threat posed by these vehicles, Washington — as a first step — should follow its allies’ leads and ban Chinese-made smart vehicles from entering military facilities and other sensitive government sites. While the Senate had passed legislation to enact this ban, Congress ultimately dropped the provision from the annual defense authorization act.

In dropping its provision, Congress cited a Department of Commerce rule banning the sale of new Chinese- and Russian-made vehicles starting with model year 2027. The ban on Chinese-made vehicle connectivity system (VCS) hardware embedded in cars made elsewhere, however, will not take effect until 2030, providing Beijing with four more years to entrench its espionage systems around the country. To address this gap, the Federal Communications Commission should move forward with its proposal to ban the import and sale of all Chinese-made VCS hardware and automated driving systems.

Americans expect their cars to go where they want, when they want, and without risk that a foreign actor could use their onboard technologies as a weapon. Action by Washington can thwart China’s attempts to turn the car — a symbol of freedom in America — into an espionage asset.

Annie Fixler is the director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Kellie McSween is a CCTI intern. For more analysis from the authors and CCTI, please subscribe HERE. Follow FDD on X @FDD and @FDD_CCTI. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.