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Turkish defense companies Aselsan, Roketsan, Havelsan and TUSAS Engine Industries Inc. (TEI) no longer allow foreign-made electric cars onto their campuses because of concerns over their sensors and external software control, TEI General Manager Mahmut Faruk Aksit said on Saturday.
"As Türkiye, as Aselsan, Roketsan, Havelsan and TEI, we no longer let foreign electric cars into the campus," Aksit said at a conference at Pamukkale University's Institute of Islamic Sciences in Denizli.
The move puts Türkiye's leading defense firms alongside militaries in Poland, Britain and Israel that have restricted foreign-made, connected vehicles at sensitive sites over fears of data collection and remote control.
"Because there are too many sensors, cameras, and so on, it maps the area and control is not with us," Aksit said, noting, "We allow domestic ones; the software and the control are with us. But the danger is great."
"Allah forbid, you cannot know what would happen in a war. If the software is under your control, you can change the password and the software and secure it again. But if the software and control are with someone else, unfortunately it does whatever they want," he said.
Aksit said his remarks reflected his personal assessments.
"If you run a war simulation with artificial intelligence, AI uses cars as missiles almost every time," he said, adding, "It uses them as guided missiles moving on the ground. It takes control of the car. It crashes you into the gate of a military unit. Whether you are inside or not, AI does not really care. Very dangerous."
He also warned that internet-connected devices, including robot vacuums, cameras and smart home systems, could be taken over by malicious actors, and said TEI uses systems physically separated from the internet to protect critical data.
The Polish army has banned Chinese cars from military facilities, saying modern vehicles are capable of "uncontrolled acquisition and use of data," and barred all cars that record location, video and sound from secure areas unless those functions are switched off.
In Britain, the Special Boat Service (SBS) has barred Chinese-made electric cars from its base in Poole.
Beijing has denied using its electric cars for espionage.
The Israeli military has also ordered the withdrawal of about 700 Chinese-made vehicles from officers over espionage concerns, as more countries start to act over foreign electric vehicles.
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