The U.S. military bans BYD vehicles from accessing an air base in Japan

Beginning Monday, the U.S. military will ban electric vehicles manufactured by Chinese company BYD from entering Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, citing security risks to personnel and military mission operations.

Lieutenant Colonel Alli Stormer, the base’s spokesperson, said the vehicles represent “an unacceptable and impossible-to-mitigate risk.” The official did not specify, however, the exact risks that prompted the command to impose the restriction.

Kadena is a strategic hub for U.S. air forces in southwestern Japan, near the East China Sea. The measure targets connected vehicles and technologies capable of collecting data, amid tensions between Washington and Beijing.

BYD has expanded its international operations and surpassed Tesla in 2025, becoming the world’s largest manufacturer of battery electric vehicles. In Japan, the company launched the compact electric Racco model in July.

In June, the Pentagon included BYD on its list of companies it considers to support the Chinese military, alongside Alibaba, Baidu, and NIO. BYD rejected the designation and announced that it would challenge it through administrative and legal channels.

The U.S. decision comes after China restricted access by some Tesla vehicles to certain government facilities in 2021, citing risks related to onboard cameras. The restrictions were lifted in 2024.