Changes are underway in the Israel Defense Forces: In early November 2025, the IDF announced it would stop using vehicles manufactured in China. The reason for that was the risk that information from the cars could fall into the hands of China. The IDF said that by the first quarter of 2026, 700 vehicles, mainly Chery Tiggo 8 Pros, will be removed from the fleet of Israeli senior officers, after suspicions arose that smart devices built into the cars could collect information about the Israeli military and transmit it to China or another third party.
The decision is not just a future fear of espionage. The Chinese machines, which have been handed over to colonels and other officials in the Israel Defence Forces since 2022, run on a closed operating system. Cars are equipped with innovative technologies: cameras, microphones, sensors, and communication systems that can collect audio, video, geolocation, and biometric data. In addition, this data can be transmitted to external servers, potentially located in China, without the driver’s or importer’s consent or knowledge.
In addition, the cars’ built-in GPS devices continuously collect location and diagnostic data. At the same time, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro’s high-resolution 360-degree cameras can record military exercises, troop movements, and the operation of military equipment. This data could pose a significant risk to Israel’s military security. In addition to the information falling into the hands of China, this data makes the Israel Defense Forces vulnerable to hacking attacks.
Interestingly, security officials themselves have attempted to sterilize the vehicles to prevent them from transmitting information to outside forces, but they have concluded that this is impossible. Given the risks, some Israeli security and intelligence agencies have refused to allow Chinese vehicles into their territory.
In addition to the IDF, Israel’s aerospace and other defence industries also banned the use of Chinese vehicles earlier this month. They also plan to ban Chinese-made vehicles from entering defence factories, and workers who own them will have to park them in public parking lots outside the factories.
According to the Israeli Air Force, there are already areas where Chinese vehicles are prohibited from entering. They also plan to expand these areas to prevent unforeseen incidents and to prevent Chinese vehicles driven by employees or guests from accidentally entering sensitive areas.
These decisions could lead to significant delays in the export of Chinese cars to Israel. This process had already begun in part, as the issuance of import licenses for Chinese cars has been significantly restricted and delayed. According to available information, the Chinese government has already officially contacted Israel on this issue, following the postponement of the deadline for issuing licenses to large car importers.
The move by the Israeli security forces puts Israel in line with the United States and the United Kingdom, which also restrict the use of Chinese equipment on security agency sites. In the United States, the Pentagon has banned not only Chinese vehicles but also Chinese mobile phones on government, security, and military sites.
Interestingly, the threat of Chinese smart technologies collecting information and transferring it to China or other powers also exists in Georgia. Over the past few years, Georgia has been actively purchasing and using Chinese smart cameras, which pose significant risks.
It is interesting that Chinese cars are also actively entering Georgia. In January-August 2024, imports of Chinese cars into Georgia increased by 111% compared to the same period of the previous year. Experts, along with the availability and price of Chinese cars, also spoke about the risks associated with them, which included non-compliance with European quality standards. In addition, in 2025, as a result of a memorandum of understanding signed with the Sena Auto Group, Chery, banned by the Israeli Defense Forces, officially entered the Georgian market.
According to the research of Civic IDEA, these cameras pose a threat to Georgia’s national security, as Chinese smart cameras allow for facial recognition and voice recording, creating the risk of this information falling into the hands of China. Because of these threats, certain Chinese smart cameras are banned in many Western Countries, including the United States, Great Britain, and the European Union.
Author: Mariam Kapanadze
