Safety Concerns Identified in Chinese Electric Buses in the UK

On November 10, 2025, the *Daily Mail* reported that China's Yutong electric buses could pose a security threat in the United Kingdom. According to reports, the system installed in these vehicles may allow the manufacturer to remotely disable them.

Since 2018, the number of Yutong electric buses purchased in the UK has exceeded 2,500. Several politicians, including former party leaders, have called on the government to immediately halt the procurement of these buses and replace the existing ones.

"They are opting for the cheapest option, but this technology has the ability to monitor us. These vehicles are equipped with IT systems capable of collecting data and can be remotely controlled to shut down.

We need to reassess our relationship with China," said British politician Iain Duncan Smith. The UK's Department for Transport has launched an investigation into the matter.

The ministry is working in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre to determine the essence of the problem and seek solutions. A representative of Yutong, however, asserted that the company complies with all laws and clarified that the electric buses cannot be remotely controlled.

"Without the customer's permission, no one can access or control the systems. Yutong's electric buses in Europe do not support the ability to remotely increase speed, steer, or manage the braking system," stated the company in an official statement.

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