Germany’s armed forces have reportedly restricted vehicles from Chinese automakers, including BYD, Geely and Nio, from accessing designated military security zones amid concerns that their onboard cameras and sensors could collect sensitive information and transmit it to Beijing, EV reported, citing Der Spiegel.
However, Germany’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that there is no blanket prohibition on vehicles from specific countries or manufacturers.
The reported restrictions stem from concerns that the cameras and sensors fitted to Chinese-made vehicles could capture sensitive information and potentially share it with Chinese security authorities, Der Spiegel reported. The publication did not specify when the restrictions were introduced, how many vehicle models are affected or whether the measures apply uniformly across all military installations.
The Defense Ministry did not directly confirm the reported restrictions. According to Reuters, a spokesperson reiterated on Wednesday that Germany has no general ban on vehicles manufactured by companies from particular countries.
BYD and Nio have also been included on the U.S. Department of Defense’s list of designated Chinese military companies. The list was expanded on June 8 under Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. Nio rejected the designation the following day, stating that it is neither a Chinese military company nor a contributor to China’s military-civil fusion program. The automaker also indicated that it was considering legal action to challenge the classification.
The reported restrictions come as Chinese automakers continue to gain ground in Germany’s passenger vehicle market.
BYD registered 5,173 new vehicles in Germany in October, representing a 54.3% increase from a year earlier, according to data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). The result gave BYD a 2.0% market share, making it the fastest-growing import brand among manufacturers with at least a 1.5% market share.
SAIC-owned MG recorded 4,140 registrations, up 48.5% year over year, while Stellantis-backed Leapmotor registered 3,661 vehicles, an increase of 288.6%. XPeng posted a record 1,380 registrations, up 284.4%. Geely, which the KBA began tracking as a standalone brand this year, registered 981 vehicles. Its affiliated brands Lynk & Co and Zeekr added 174 and 80 registrations, respectively, while Nio did not register any vehicles during the month.
Geely, which has been listed as an independent brand in KBA statistics only since this year, recorded 981 registrations. Its Lynk & Co and Zeekr marques added 174 and 80 vehicles, respectively. Nio, meanwhile, reported no new registrations during the month.
Combined, the seven Chinese automotive brands recorded 15,589 new vehicle registrations in Germany in October, accounting for approximately 6.1% of the 254,492 vehicles registered across the market.
The KBA also reported that fully electric vehicles accounted for a record 37.0% of all new car registrations in Germany during October. A total of 94,086 battery-electric vehicles were registered, representing a 79.5% increase year-on-year.
EV WORLD | Kia Opens UK Orders for New PV5 Chassis and Cargo L2/H2 Variants
