Danish municipalities continue to purchase Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), such as the popular BYD Dolphin, despite Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s warnings about dependency on China and concerns from the Data Protection Agency. Frederiksen stressed the importance of reducing Europe’s dependency on Chinese products in her New Years speech, yet municipal fleets continue to grow with these cars.
Syddjurs and Holstebro municipalities lead the charge, having added significant numbers of Chinese EVs to their fleets. This increase aligns with Denmark’s 2020 green transition agreement, which encourages adopting environmentally friendly vehicles. In some areas, electric cars account for nearly 60% of new municipal vehicle purchases.
Municipal leaders cite cost savings and environmental benefits as key reasons for choosing Chinese EVs. However, the Data Protection Agency highlights serious data security risks. New EVs collect and transmit extensive data, potentially raising privacy concerns. Adjunct professor Tanja Kammersgaard Christensen points out that municipalities must manage this data carefully to comply with regulations.
BYD, a leading Chinese EV manufacturer, assures compliance with strict EU data protection laws. The company maintains that all data remains on EU servers, aiming to quell security fears. Despite these assurances, debates over data security and geopolitical tensions persist.
Municipalities argue that they follow established procurement rules, which currently prevent excluding Chinese suppliers based solely on nationality. However, authorities call for a review of procurement policies to better align with national security interests. The recent increase in Chinese EV purchases has sparked public debate and concern over dependence on foreign technology.
Source: TV2
