Starting Monday, the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa has prohibited all BYD vehicles from entering its premises. The restriction applies to all cars, including taxis, delivery vehicles, and contractor transport. Lieutenant Colonel Alli Stormer stated that these vehicles pose an unacceptable risk to the base personnel and mission.
Reports indicate that the ban stems from security concerns regarding cameras and sensors in modern BYD vehicles, which could potentially capture sensitive military data. The Pentagon currently includes BYD on a list of companies suspected of supporting the Chinese military, alongside firms like Nio, Alibaba, and Baidu.
While Chinese-branded vehicles face significant tariffs and software restrictions in the United States, BYD maintains a presence in other global markets. In Japan, the company holds a 0.1 percent market share and recently introduced the Racco electric kei car to increase its local presence.
