Arabic version: ظهور كاميرات داهوا في سيارات ليب موتور الكهربائية بأستراليا
According to ABC News, cameras made by Dahua Technology, which were removed from Australian federal government buildings and defence sites in 2023 over surveillance concerns, are being used in Leapmotor electric vehicles sold in Australia. Leapmotor entered the Australian market in 2024 and has three models for sale. Its C10 model has six cameras that provide a 360-degree view of the vehicle’s surroundings and interior.
Documents filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange show Leapmotor has an ongoing procurement contract with a Dahua subsidiary to supply cameras, sensors and radars. Four Corners also bought a Leapmotor rear camera carrying the Dahua identifier, “DH”, in its labelling. Leapmotor did not respond to Four Corners’ questions.
Former national cybersecurity adviser Alastair MacGibbon said microphones and cameras in EVs and other connected cars could make them surveillance devices. He said a vehicle parked near a government building could record staff movements and identify changing work patterns. Mr MacGibbon called for Chinese-connected vehicles to be banned from military bases, intelligence facilities, sensitive sites and critical infrastructure.
Four Corners visited a public Canberra car park between the headquarters of ASIO, the Department of Defence and the Australian Signals Directorate, finding 22 EVs, with almost half from Chinese brands. It also drove a Leapmotor through the Royal Military College, Duntroon, past ASIO headquarters and around the Russell Defence precinct.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia had restrictions for some connected vehicles, though the Department of Defence declined to detail its measures. In the United Kingdom, Chinese EVs and vehicles containing Chinese components were banned from some sensitive sites and training bases last year. China banned Teslas from political enclaves and some defence sites in 2021.
