Growing Concerns Over Chinese Electric Vehicles in Canada
Canadian security experts and automotive industry leaders are raising alarms about potential national security threats posed by electric vehicles imported from China. The concerns center around the possibility of foreign entities gaining remote access to vehicle systems and sensitive data collected by these technologically advanced cars.
Brian Kingston, chief executive at the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association, has emerged as a prominent voice in this debate. He draws direct parallels between the security concerns surrounding Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok and those presented by connected vehicles manufactured in China.
The TikTok Comparison: A Moving Security Risk
"If TikTok is considered a security risk, then a moving vehicle that can potentially be controlled from outside Canada clearly represents one as well," Kingston stated in recent discussions about the emerging threat.
The comparison highlights how modern electric vehicles function as sophisticated data collection platforms, equipped with numerous sensors, cameras, and connectivity features that could be vulnerable to external manipulation or surveillance.
Photographs from November 2025 show BYD electric vehicles, among China's leading EV manufacturers, waiting for export at Yantai port in Shandong province. These images underscore the scale of China's growing automotive export ambitions, with Canada representing a potential target market.
Data Security and Remote Control Concerns
Modern electric vehicles collect extensive data about driving patterns, locations, user behavior, and even biometric information. Security analysts worry that if this data flows to servers controlled by foreign governments or companies, it could compromise individual privacy and national security.
The remote control capabilities of connected vehicles present additional concerns. Unlike traditional automobiles, many new electric vehicles can receive software updates remotely and some feature autonomous driving functions that could theoretically be manipulated from outside the country.
Industry representatives like Kingston argue that Canada needs to develop comprehensive security frameworks for connected vehicles before allowing widespread importation of Chinese EVs. This includes establishing clear data governance policies and ensuring that critical vehicle systems cannot be compromised by foreign actors.
The debate comes as Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers increasingly look to expand into international markets, including North America. Canadian officials now face the challenge of balancing environmental goals promoting electric vehicle adoption with legitimate security concerns about vehicle origins.
