Poland has banned vehicles manufactured in the People’s Republic of China from entering military bases and protected military structures. This was announced by representatives of the General Staff of the Polish Army on Tuesday evening.
The decision was made based on an analysis of the risks associated with the increasing digitalization of modern vehicles and the potential for uncontrolled data collection by onboard systems. Specifically, concerns are raised by the numerous sensors, cameras, and microphones found in many Chinese vehicles (including electric vehicles from BYD, NIO, Xpeng, MG, and others). According to the military, these devices could theoretically be used to collect sensitive information about the location and infrastructure of military facilities.
The General Staff’s official statement emphasizes that the ban is aimed at enhancing the security of critical infrastructure. However, it stipulates the possibility of exceptions: Chinese-made vehicles may be allowed onto the facility if certain functions (cameras, microphones, data transmission) are disabled and additional security measures stipulated by the regulations of the specific military facility are implemented. Additionally, military personnel are prohibited from connecting service smartphones to the infotainment systems of Chinese-made vehicles.
The ban took effect immediately after the relevant order was published. Previously, in January 2026, similar restrictions were applied on a trial basis at certain bases, and in some cases, even Tesla vehicles were denied entry (due to the use of Chinese components in some models).
Experts note that the growing popularity of Chinese cars in Poland (especially electric vehicles) in recent years has made the issue particularly pressing. Similar concerns have been expressed in other NATO countries, but Poland was one of the first to impose such strict and public restrictions specifically on military installations.
The Ministry of National Defense and the counterintelligence service emphasize that the measure is preventative in nature and is part of an overall strategy to protect against potential threats in the areas of cybersecurity and intelligence collection.