Kadena Air Base Blocks BYD Cars

Security guards at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, are now instructing drivers of BYD vehicles to turn around. The rule took effect on Tuesday, barring all cars made by the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer from entering the facility.

Lieutenant Colonel Alli Stormer, a spokesperson for the 18th Wing, said the vehicles present an unacceptable and unmitigable risk to personnel and the mission. The restriction covers every type of BYD vehicle, including private cars, taxis, and delivery trucks.

Kadena is the largest United States Air Force base in East Asia. It holds a Typhon missile system capable of firing Tomahawk missiles up to 1,600 kilometers. That range places parts of China and Russia within striking distance. The base also hosts fighter jets and aircraft used for refueling and surveillance.

The ban follows a June decision by the Pentagon to add BYD to a list of 188 Chinese companies with military ties. That blacklist also includes Nio, Alibaba, and Baidu. Washington suspects that smart technology in devices can collect sensitive information.

Military officials have not identified a specific threat from BYD cars. However, concerns exist that cameras, sensors, and GPS units could leak data. The move fits a wider Western effort to limit Chinese technology in vehicles and phones.

China imposed a similar ban on Tesla vehicles in 2021 due to camera concerns. Beijing lifted that restriction in 2024 after Tesla received an endorsement from the country's auto industry association. BYD has not responded publicly to the Kadena ban.

BYD overtook Tesla as the world's largest seller of battery-electric vehicles in 2025. The company launched its Racco electric minicar in Japan in July, aiming to compete in a market dominated by domestic brands.