BREAKING: Urgent safety tests in Oslo, Norway, have unveiled alarming cybersecurity vulnerabilities in electric buses manufactured by China’s Yutong. Conducted by the public transport operator Ruter, these tests reveal that the Chinese-made buses can be manipulated remotely, raising serious safety and operational concerns.
The trials, held several months ago, compared a bus from Yutong with one from a European manufacturer. While the European vehicle remained secure, the Yutong bus was found to be susceptible to external manipulation. Ruter officials reported that the manufacturer can access critical systems, including software, diagnostics, and battery controls. This means they could potentially disable the bus or render it unusable at will.
Arild Tjomsland, a special advisor at the University of South-Eastern Norway, underscored the risks associated with these findings. “The Chinese bus can be stopped, turned off, or receive updates that can destroy the technology that the bus needs to operate normally,” he stated. This capability poses a unique threat, as it could disrupt public transport operations or be used as leverage during a crisis.
These revelations emerge amidst growing concerns over foreign-made electric vehicles. During former President Joe Biden‘s green energy initiatives, Chinese automakers were poised to enter the U.S. market with affordable electric options. However, experts warn that this influx could compromise national security. A think tank in the UK cautioned that EVs from China could be “weaponized” against Western interests.
In response to the findings, Ruter‘s Director Bernt Reitan Jenssen emphasized the broader implications: “We’ve found that everything that is connected poses a risk — and that includes buses. There is a risk that suppliers could take control, but also that other players could break into this value chain and influence the buses.”
The results of these tests have been sent to the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Norway, indicating an urgent need for regulatory reviews and potential action regarding the use of foreign-manufactured electric buses.
As this situation develops, transport authorities and policymakers must assess the implications for public safety and national security. The reliance on foreign technology in critical infrastructure continues to raise eyebrows, and immediate steps may be necessary to mitigate these risks.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as authorities respond to these urgent cybersecurity threats.
