BYD vehicles are not allowed to pass through Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, according to a report cited by detikOto. The restriction applies to all BYD vehicles, including private cars, taxis and commercial vehicles. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson said the vehicles posed a security concern for personnel and the base’s operations, but did not specify what prompted the measure.
The report points to concerns that cameras and sensors fitted to modern BYD cars, trucks and SUVs could collect sensitive information from the military installation. The restriction comes amid broader U.S. scrutiny of Chinese companies: BYD has appeared on a Pentagon list of firms said to support China’s military, alongside Nio, Alibaba and Baidu. The article also notes that Chinese-brand vehicles are not currently available in the United States amid high tariffs and software restrictions. It cites Polestar, owned by Geely, as facing a U.S. market exit after the 2026 model year over software issues, despite building vehicles in South Carolina.
Some U.S. lawmakers are seeking legislation to permanently bar Chinese cars from the U.S. market. The article adds that security concerns about connected vehicles are not limited to the United States: China temporarily restricted Tesla vehicles from some government locations in 2021, then lifted the measure in 2024 after Tesla’s China-built cars met national data-security requirements.