The SPD is considering a halt to the approval of certain electric‑car manufacturers because of possible cyber risks.
Digital‑policy spokesperson Johannes Schätzl told Handelsblatt’s Monday edition that if “serious confirmed incidents” occur, it might ultimately become “necessary to prohibit the approval of certain manufacturers or models on German roads”.
The concern stems from safety issues with connected vehicles, especially those produced by Chinese suppliers.
Schätzl said the growing market share of Chinese manufacturers brings “new security‑related questions”. In addition to drivers’ personal data, the vehicles’ sensor and environmental data are also sensitive. If such information becomes accessible to Chinese state authorities, it could be used for cyber‑attacks or military purposes, he warned.
He called for special protection measures for security‑critical areas such as police and the armed forces. Restrictions could limit use at specific sites or for particular groups of people. While remote‑access and data‑security risks affect all connected vehicles, higher risks arise when companies are subject to state access obligations and lack independent oversight – a concern he highlighted with respect to China.
Isabel Cademartori, the SPD’s transport policy spokesperson, urges a comprehensive security‑policy assessment.
She stresses the need to scrutinize whether a state with clear geopolitical interests is collecting personal and geospatial data. From her perspective, Europe must invest more in technological sovereignty and prefer domestic suppliers when procuring vehicles, both for security reasons and to strengthen Germany’s industrial base.
