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Chinese Buses in Australia: A 'Kill Switch' Concern
20 Jan
Summary
- Yutong electric buses may have a remote 'kill switch' accessible from China.
- Australian authorities are assessing security risks associated with Chinese EVs.
- Distributor states buses are prepared for Australian requirements locally.
Yutong-branded electric buses utilized across Australia are reportedly equipped with a 'kill switch' that could be activated remotely by the manufacturer in China. This revelation, highlighted by the UK's National Cyber Security Centre, has raised concerns about potential intervention via software update SIM cards.
While the distributor of Yutong buses in Australia, Vehicle Dealers International, asserts that vehicles are prepared for local requirements with operator-authorized changes done in person, cybersecurity experts caution about the broader risks of internet-connected vehicles from China.
Transport authorities in New South Wales and Canberra are actively assessing these potential risks, with Transport Canberra having disabled over-the-air updates on its fleet. Yutong has stated that Australian vehicle data is stored locally in Sydney and protected with encryption and access controls.
