Hundreds of electric buses in Britain have Chinese ‘kill switch’ which can remotely disconnect them
Hundreds of electric buses in the UK can be switched off remotely using a Chinese-built ‘kill switch’, according to British security services.
Officials from the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and the Department for Transport believe China may shut down buses traveling along Britain’s roads.
Concerns that Chinese Yutong electric buses could be ‘stopped or rendered inoperable by the manufacturer’ by switching off the batteries were first expressed in Norway.
Built-in SIM cards provide buses with internet connectivity that are intended to allow software updates, but security experts have now revealed they could act as a backdoor for Beijing’s interference.
The NCSC was called in to examine Yutong buses in British fleets and their investigation confirmed that Norway had reported that it was ‘technically possible’ for the vehicles to be switched off remotely from China.
Around 700 Yutong buses currently operate on British roads, and well-known providers Stagecoach and First Bus are thought to have more than 200 vehicles each.
Labour’s drive to reduce carbon emissions on public transport has seen its numbers rise even since the tip-off in Norway.
Nottingham City Council said last month it was replacing its entire single-decker bus fleet with Yutong models and plans to do the same with all double-decker buses by the end of the year.
Around 700 Yutong buses operate on UK roads; this includes the bus in Leeds City Center
UK National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) confirms China can ‘technically’ shut down buses remotely (stock image)
Despite the worrying statement, ministers are unable to block the sale of at-risk buses to the UK because there is no concrete evidence of Chinese involvement, Whitehall sources told Whitehall. Telegram.
There are concerns that banning them without any evidence of malpractice would further strain already strained diplomatic relations with Beijing.
A source familiar with the investigation told the newspaper: ‘They haven’t found any evidence that this actually happened.
‘And there are broader considerations about how we deal with China, of which this is only a small part.’
While the NCSC will continue to monitor ongoing investigations into Yutong buses in other countries, there are no plans to follow Norway’s lead and put safety warnings on the buses.
Government safety experts reportedly do not believe there is any real danger of shutting down the buses, and inspectors do not believe a kill switch was used.
But its presence is likely to raise concerns about the extent of China’s control over Britain’s national infrastructure, after Labor MPs called for Beijing to put it in writing.
A Yutong bus in Norway – where concerns were first raised
Digital mock-up of China’s proposed ‘super embassy’ near Tower Bridge
But Keir Starmer has been keen to attract more foreign investment from China and the UK held its first trade talks with Beijing in seven years in September 2025.
The Prime Minister is expected to travel to China later this month, becoming the first person to do so since 2018, and this month the government also looks set to approve the construction of a major new Chinese embassy in London.
The ‘super embassy’ plans have come under intense criticism over fears it could give China access to data at nearby sensitive assets such as the city’s financial district and various data centres.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘We take safety extremely seriously and are working closely with the Government and the transport sector to understand this issue and reduce potential risks.’
