A quiet fleet of electric buses has suddenly become a security concern.
Authorities in Iceland are now examining potential risks linked to Chinese-made buses operating in the country’s public transport system, Iceland Moniter reports. The move follows warnings from Norway about possible vulnerabilities.
At the center of the issue are electric buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong. Fifteen of these buses are currently part of the fleet run by Strætó.
Remote control concerns
Last year, Norwegian transport authorities found that similar buses could, in theory, be affected through remote software updates. In the worst case, systems could be disabled.
Icelandic authorities stress that such scenarios are unlikely. Still, the issue has triggered a formal review.
The Ministry of Infrastructure has asked police to assess whether data collected by the buses could be used for surveillance or even espionage. Officials are also examining whether Chinese authorities could interfere with operations.
So far, findings suggest that onboard cameras are not connected to the internet. This means they cannot transmit video data externally.
However, the buses do allow remote software updates via mobile networks. That opens a small, theoretical window for external access.
To address this, steps are already being taken.
A modified software solution is being developed to block any data sharing with the manufacturer. Once implemented, the buses are expected to operate without direct external connections.
Similar concerns have surfaced in other Nordic countries. Sweden has reached conclusions close to Iceland’s, while Denmark and Finland are still reviewing the issue.
