An EV battery at CIT. Photo: James Coleman.
Canberra’s new $5 million Cyber Security Centre of Excellence will look into the safety of connected cars – after concerns were raised Chinese-made electric vehicles could effectively be used as weapons on Australia’s roads.
The centre, launched this week at CIT Woden by Federal Skills Minister Andrew Giles and ACT counterpart Michael Pettersson, will train students in cyber defence, data protection and supply chain security – but it will also work alongside CIT’s existing Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence to examine cyber risks in cars.
A CIT spokesperson said cyber awareness was already a key part of its EV training programs.
“This relates to all EV types, regardless of where they are manufactured,” the spokesperson told Region.
“Cyber security awareness is embedded in EV training, including safe diagnostics practices, understanding connected systems, and recognising the importance of secure updates.”
The comments come after Alastair MacGibbon, chief strategy officer at CyberCX and a cyber security adviser to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, warned that Chinese vehicles could be used to spy on drivers – or even be remotely sabotaged.
“Those cars … are listening devices, and they’re surveillance devices in terms of cameras,” Mr MacGibbon said during a panel at the Australian Financial Review Cyber Summit.
Mr MacGibbon warned the cars could one day be used as a form of guerrilla warfare, and even urged public officials not to ride in them.
“Let’s talk potential scenarios. Take off the safety features of household batteries so that they overcharge. Take off those same safety features for electric vehicles. Just turn them off from the manufacturer so that those vehicles explode. Degrade their ability to drive at peak hour in select cities.”
CyberCX chief strategy officer Alastair MacGibbon. Photo: CyberCX.
The risk to national security posed by Chinese tech was first officially recognised in September 2024, when the US and its ”Five Eyes” intelligence partners (including Australia) disrupted two large Beijing-sponsored hacking operations from targeting more than 200,000 home computers, internet routers and web cameras worldwide.
At the time, then-US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Chinese cars’ built-in cameras, microphones and GPS could easily be exploited in the same way.
“It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how a foreign adversary with access to this information could pose a serious risk to both our national security and the privacy of citizens,” she said.
“You can imagine the most catastrophic outcome theoretically if you had a couple million cars on the road and the software were disabled.”
Liberal senator James Paterson added Australia should “look closely” at whether to ban Chinese-made EVs, but added there were other options, such as requiring minimum cyber standards.
“For example, you can impose minimum cybersecurity standards that would lift the bar that all internet devices like that have to meet, not just cars but other devices connected to the internet,” he said.
So far, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Australia will “closely monitor” the situation.
“The United States makes its own decisions, of course. We make our own decisions based upon our own advice,” he said.
At this week’s CIT launch, ACT Skills Minister Michael Pettersson said he would not speculate on security concerns, but acknowledged more investigation was needed.
“There’s an interesting conversation as our vehicles become more advanced, more connected, more online, the possible vulnerabilities that might exist for that technology,” he said.
BYD has overtaken Tesla as the best-selling EV company in Australia. Photo: James Coleman.
Last month, four Chinese brands – BYD, GWM, MG and Chery – entered the national top 10 by sales for the first time, according to data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
A total of 20,070 Chinese-made vehicles were sold in August, 67 per cent higher than August 2024. And since 2019, 265,080 Chinese-made EVs and hybrids have been sold in Australia.
The car industry maintains that Australia’s current safety standards are enough to protect buyers.
FCAI chief executive Tony Weber told Region all cars sold locally must already meet strict national standards for safety, emissions and cyber security.
A spokesperson for Chery Australia also said the company was “committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and transparency”.
“All products exported to Australia comply with the relevant regulations and safety standards in Australia,” the spokesperson said.
“Furthermore, Chery continues to proactively collaborate with regulators to ensure our technology meets the stringent requirements regarding data security and consumer protection.”
BYD Australia and MG Motor Australia were contacted for comment. MG Motor Australia could not reply by the time of publication.
