Dire warning Chinese electrical vehicles ‘may paralyse UK roads’ in an straight away
China may paralyse Britain’s roads with a flick of a change with electric cars manufactured by the Asian large probably posing main safety points, an trade skilled has warned. Professor Jim Saker, president of the Institute of the Motor Industry, has mentioned between 100,000 and 300,000 electrical vehicles in Europe could possibly be immobilised remotely by Chinese officers.
Professor Saker instructed The Times the specter of related electrical autos flooding the nation could possibly be the best Trojan horse that the Chinese institution has” if Beijing saw fit to destabilise Britain’s economy.
According to the same publication, industry analysts have said 30 electric car brands want to enter the UK market before the Government’s planned 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles.
Professor Saker said in a report that he feared it was impossible to stop the Chinese from including spyware in the vehicles which could bring them to a halt.
He urged the Government to delay the ban by five years and accused ministers of being too relaxed about the threat he sees coming from China.
He told The Times: “Virtually each nation is attempting to combat towards an overreliance on China, besides the UK.”
It is believed British motor regulators can test imported cars for spyware, but Professor Saker said the process takes time and it would be impractical to assess thousands of vehicles.
Professor Saker writes in his report that Beijing has been trying to dominate the market for lithium, which is an important mineral for vehicle battery production.
He suggested ministers should focus on hydrogen power for vehicles because the technology does not need mineral imports.
Andrew Bowie MP, Minister for Nuclear and Networks, told the BBC: “We take very severely all threats to the UK’s safety. We stay dedicated to phasing out new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 because the Prime Minister mentioned over the weekend.
“The Government will look in detail at all the issues surrounding new cars and new technologies as we do with any new technology we bring into the United Kingdom, from whichever country in the world it comes from, will be examined closely to make sure they don’t pose a risk to the British people.”
Reuters reported on Thursday that carmakers within the West are fretting about an “invasion” of low-cost Chinese electrical vehicles in Europe.
It mentioned the issues prompted France’s Renault to say it desires to slash manufacturing prices for its electrical fashions by 40 p.c.
Chinese automotive producers had a 9 p.c share of Europe’s EV market in 2022 – virtually twice the 2021 determine, in line with forecasts by the consultancy Inovev.