US military bans BYD vehicles from strategic air base in Japan

Business Recorder reported that the US military will bar BYD vehicles from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, starting Monday. The base said the electric vehicles pose a security threat to its personnel and operations, but did not identify the specific concern behind the decision.

Kadena is a major US air-power centre on Japan’s southwest island chain. BYD, which became the world’s largest seller of battery-electric vehicles in 2025, has been expanding abroad and introduced its Racco electric minicar in Japan in July.

The Pentagon named BYD in June among Chinese companies it believes support China’s military; BYD rejected that assessment and said it would pursue administrative and legal options. China previously restricted Tesla vehicles at some government compounds over security concerns, lifting the measure in 2024.