𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Officials at the Department for Transport are investigating whether Chinese-made buses and cars could be remotely stopped in their tracks. There is mounting concern that vehicles could be fitted with “kill switches” that could render them inoperative. The Government is looking into reports that a Chinese-manufactured bus in Norway was fitted with software and a SIM card which it is claimed would have allowed the manufacturer to stop it working.

Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden accused the Prime Minister of being “asleep at the wheel” when it came to the threat to the nation’s transport network.

He said: “This raises serious national security questions. We cannot allow parts of Britain’s transport network to become dependent on Chinese-built vehicles that could contain surveillance capabilities or cyber vulnerabilities.

“There have already been credible reports about remote access and so-called ‘kill switches’ in connected vehicles. Combined with access to critical transport infrastructure, the risks cannot simply be brushed aside.

“Keir Starmer is asleep at the wheel while Chinese tech rolls straight into Britain’s transport system, sleepwalking into yet another national security problem. Ministers must urgently review these contracts, properly investigate the risks, and ensure British passengers, data and infrastructure are protected.”

Former Conservative defence minister Tobias Ellwood warned: “The concept of digital kill switches is well known but is likely to pose an ever greater threat as global tensions rise. Any Chinese made product or service must come with guarantees such software is not included with significant fines imposed if it’s found to exist.”

Transport Simon Lightwood confirmed that officials are investigating the reports.

He said: “The Government takes national security extremely seriously and recognises the systemic challenges of increased connectivity and the cyber security implications for almost every area of government policy, including electric buses. The Department works closely with the transport sector and other government department to understand and respond to cyber vulnerabilities for all transport modes.”

The minister said national security powers allow the Government to “exclude suppliers from public sector procurement, terminate their contracts and debar them from future ones”.

It was reported last year that “rogue communication devices” had been found in equipment at solar farms in the United States, fuelling fears that Beijing could have the power to trigger blackouts.

Reuters reported that devices had been found in some Chinese solar power “inverters” which are used to connect panels to electricity grids.

A source told the news agency: “That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid.”