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Chinese-made rental cars used by Norway’s armed forces recorded information about soldiers’ movements, routes and access codes during a major military exercise in September, Norwegian defense magazine Forsvarets Forum reported, citing business daily Dagens Naeringsliv.
The vehicles were rented through Hertz Norway, whose ownership chain leads to China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, according to the reports. At least two of the vehicles were Deepal cars manufactured by Chinese automaker Changan.
Lt. Fredrik Blanck, who participated in the exercise, said recordings from the vehicles showed soldiers entering and leaving the cars, the routes they traveled, whom they picked up and how long they remained at different locations.
The cars also reportedly stored codes entered by personnel to open military gates and doors.
The recordings were later deleted, but it remains unclear whether the data was stored elsewhere.
The Norwegian Armed Forces Logistics Organization signed a nationwide rental-car framework agreement in 2024 covering the period from June 2024 through May 2028, with a maximum value of 350 million Norwegian kroner.
First Rent A Car Norway, which operates Hertz Norway, is the primary supplier under the agreement. The vehicles are used during military exercises, operational activities and the armed forces’ daily operations.
The company’s ownership chain ultimately leads to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Geely founder and chairman Li Shufu is a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, or CPPCC.
Chinese-owned or Chinese-made vehicles have been the subject of a wider security debate in Norway, with warnings raised by both the Norwegian National Security Authority and the Norwegian Police Security Service.
Modern vehicles can collect information including GPS locations, driving behavior and sensor data.
Norwegian defense procurement authorities declined to disclose what requirements the rental agreement sets for GPS systems, cameras, sensors, remote access and data storage.
“This is confidential information,” the authority told Dagens Naeringsliv, citing an exemption under Norway’s Freedom of Information Act related to national defense and security interests.
Norwegian Armed Forces press officer Aleksander Engborg Hage said the military was aware of concerns surrounding electronics and vehicles.
However, he said the armed forces had no general ban on using cars made by manufacturers from specific countries.
There was no immediate reaction from China to the reports.
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