283,997. That's how many cars BYD sold in Europe through September, according to data published by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). That's nearly 7,000 more than Ford, showing just how far the mighty Blue Oval has fallen amid the rapid rise of Chinese brands on the continent. Of course, axing the Fiesta, Focus, and Mondeo certainly didn't help, but I digress.

While BYD is enjoying a 2.7 percent market share through the first nine months of the year, its rapid expansion in Europe is attracting attention for other reasons. Fourteen members of the European Parliament are asking the European Commission to investigate whether the Chinese automaker poses a cybersecurity threat, potentially paving the way for restrictions on its vehicles.

French MEP François Kalfon is leading the initiative, arguing that connected cars from China could expose sensitive European infrastructure to security risks. He said: “Allowing connected vehicles from third countries to access sensitive European infrastructure therefore poses an unacceptable security risk.”

In a written request submitted on November 4, the lawmakers asked the EU executive to have its cybersecurity agency assess BYD and consider designating the company a high-risk supplier.

Their concerns revolve around the cameras, GPS systems, microphones, and other sensors fitted to modern vehicles. While these technologies are increasingly commonplace across the automotive industry, the lawmakers worry that information collected by Chinese-made cars could potentially reach Chinese authorities.

As you can imagine, BYD isn't taking the accusations lightly. The automaker insists that China cannot access information collected by its European vehicles, whether it is stored onboard or in the cloud.

Source link