European governments are increasingly restricting access for connected electric vehicles near sensitive infrastructure, citing concerns that onboard sensors, cameras and telemetry systems could be exploited for espionage. Poland, Israel and the United Kingdom have all taken steps to limit where Chinese-made EVs — and in some cases even U.S. models — can operate, reigniting debate over technology, trust and geopolitical risk. Explaining the security logic behind these decisions, Alicja Bachulska, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) specializing in Asia, said the issue must be understood in the context of China’s long-term industrial strategy. “China made a strategic bet on electric vehicles more than a decade ago,” she said, describing EVs as a sector Beijing deliberately designated “as the industry of the future.” Bachulska noted that China itself was among the first to treat connected vehicles as a security concern. “In 2021, Tesla was banned from entering certain sensitive facilities in China,” she said. “That shows Beijing was already aware that these vehicles are not just cars — they are high-tech computers capable of collecting vast amounts of data.” She argued that European caution reflects a broader erosion of political trust. “We are coming out of the idea that China would behave as a ‘responsible power’ and become more economically liberal,” Bachulska said. “In hindsight, that assumption hasn’t held.” While much attention is focused on Chinese manufacturers, she added that the risks extend beyond any single country. “Any connected vehicle can be hacked or misused,” she said, warning that future threats may come from non-state actors as well as governments. Despite security concerns, Chinese EVs continue to gain ground in Poland, where consumers are attracted by lower prices and advanced features. “People here are generally very open to new technologies,” Bachulska said, adding that public attitudes could shift if evidence of security risks becomes more concrete.
