Concerns About China’s Electric Buses Raised in Oslo

A recent safety test by Oslo’s public transport authority has brought to light serious issues regarding electric buses from China.

Known as Rooter, the operator conducted secret tests several months ago to assess potential cybersecurity threats in electric buses, focusing on those made by a European manufacturer and China’s Yutong, as reported by MENAFN. Interestingly, the European buses were found to be secure, whereas the Chinese models demonstrated vulnerabilities that could allow manipulation by their manufacturers.

It appears that these manufacturers have access to critical software, diagnostics, and battery control systems of the buses. This poses risks, as they could potentially disable the vehicles or render them unusable, according to Rooter.

Adding to the discussion, Arild Tjomsland, a special advisor at the University of South East Norway who supported the tests, pointed out the potential hazards. He mentioned that buses in China could be halted, powered down, or subjected to updates that might disrupt their operational technology.

While he clarified that hackers and suppliers can’t outright control the buses, the ability to stop them could create significant service disruptions or even be used as a bargaining chip in a crisis.

Looking back, Breitbart News reported in 2023 on Chinese automakers aiming to penetrate the U.S. market with affordable electric vehicles during former President Joe Biden’s push for green energy. The following year, concerns arose when Chinese companies began testing self-driving cars on U.S. roads, raising questions about the data collected for U.S. mapping efforts.

In September 2024, further concerns were voiced regarding the British government’s lenient approach to electric vehicles from China, with warnings from a think tank that such vehicles could be ‘weaponized’ by the Chinese government, potentially jeopardizing domestic manufacturing and national security.

On the situation in Oslo, Bernd Leitan Jensen from Rooter stated, “We found that there is a risk in everything that is connected, including the buses. There’s a chance the supplier could take control, but other companies might also affect this value chain.” The results from the tests have been shared with officials at the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications, according to MENAFN.