MOD accelerates procurement of Chinese vehicles for white fleet despite security concerns

The Ministry of Defence is continuing to expand its use of Chinese-owned vehicles in the white fleet, despite national security concerns. 

According to a Freedom of Information request by BFBS Forces News, Chinese-owned vehicles now make up almost a fifth (16.6%) of the MOD's white fleet, which stood at 2,292 vehicles as of August 2026.

This represents an increase of 553 vehicles in the past year, as previous reporting in The Times put the number of Chinese vehicles in the white fleet at 1,739 in September 2025.

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The Chinese vehicles used are models from MG, MAXUS, and BYD, and are predominantly electric. 

All three companies are Chinese state-owned manufacturers. 

The models used by the MOD include: BYD's Dolphin, the E Deliver, E Terron 9, MIFA 9 and T90 by MAXUS and MG's HS, MG4 and MG5.

Routine business, not sensitive military activity

An MOD spokesperson said: "These vehicles are used for routine business, not sensitive military activity." 

BFBS Forces News understands from a source that routine business can involve vehicles operating around MOD Main Building and Regent's Park Barracks. 

The MOD spokesperson continued: "Strict security guidance is issued to all staff to not discuss sensitive issues in any form of civilian transport, no matter where the manufacturer is from."

We understand an internal policy note was recently sent by the MOD, applicable to all vehicles regardless of make or manufacturer, which defines appropriate behaviour for all drivers and passengers to protect from potential threats associated with cameras, microphones and location tracking.

The spokesperson added: "Modern cars from all manufacturers are in some way connected and that's why we mitigate the risks through strict security procedures, which we cannot comment on the detail on. 

"The government last year also introduced legislation to strengthen cyber protections in connected cars."

There is no central MOD policy prohibiting any specific vehicles on bases. However, we understand from several sources that Chinese vehicles are banned at some of the UK's most sensitive military sites, including both RM Poole and Stirling Lines. 

The National Armaments Director refused to tell us whether there is a policy governing the use of Chinese vehicles within the defence estate or warnings to drivers, citing national security.

Potential security threat 

There is growing concern that sensors in Chinese-made vehicles, typically used to map road conditions, could be accessed by Beijing to covertly gather intelligence on UK military installations.

In April 2025, MOD officials advised personnel against having sensitive conversations or connecting work phones inside the leased electric cars due to espionage fears. 

Warning stickers were placed in the MOD's fleet of cars to inform passengers that "MOD devices are not to be connected to the vehicle" and to "avoid conversations above OFFICIAL".

Last month, Norwegian business daily Dagens Næringsliv reported that Chinese-owned rental cars had filmed a secret military exercise designed to secure Oslo Airport in the event of war. 

The vehicles allegedly recorded footage of soldiers and captured the access codes they entered at military gates.

Chinese suppliers have also been excluded from tendering for a new MOD contract to replace the Armed Forces' Land Rover and Pinzgauer vehicle fleets.

The exclusion was made through a trade and market access mechanism rather than on explicit national security grounds, but highlights the growing scrutiny of Chinese involvement in UK defence and infrastructure.