Chinese Buses, European Fears, and the Truth About Connected Fleets - CleanTechnica

The article discusses a controversy sparked by a small test conducted by engineers at Ruter, Oslo’s public transit agency, on Chinese-made Yutong electric buses. During inspections, the engineers found that the buses’ remote diagnostics system allowed the manufacturer to connect directly for maintenance and software updates. While no evidence showed misuse—no data theft or bus disabling occurred—the discovery raised alarms about potential security risks. This led to investigations by Danish and UK authorities, despite the fact that such remote connectivity is a standard feature in modern vehicles from many manufacturers worldwide, including European brands like Volvo and Daimler. These telematics systems enable over-the-air updates and data transmission for diagnostics and maintenance, reflecting a global shift toward software-defined vehicles. The article emphasizes that European regulations, including UN standards UN R155 and R156, already mandate cybersecurity and software-update protocols for all new vehicles, expecting remote connectivity as a baseline. The real issue lies in engineering and governance: any remote access channel can become a vulnerability if poorly managed,