Changan's Deepal electric cars record Norwegian soldiers during exercise

Geely: Geely is a large Chinese automotive conglomerate with global holdings that include majority ownership of Volvo Cars. Through this ownership chain, it controls rental operations such as Hertz Norway. The connection highlights how vehicles linked to Geely were deployed in sensitive Norwegian military contexts without prior awareness of their data collection features. Changan: Changan Automobile is a major Chinese automaker that develops and produces passenger vehicles, including through its new energy vehicle subsidiary brands. It has been actively expanding its international presence with electric and plug-in hybrid models targeted at European markets. In this news, Changan is the manufacturer of the Deepal electric cars whose built-in recording functions captured sensitive military exercise footage. Hertz Norway: Hertz Norway operates as a car rental provider serving both civilian and institutional clients, including long-term framework agreements with Norwegian government entities. It is part of a corporate structure ultimately controlled by Chinese interests through Volvo Cars. In this incident, it supplied the rental vehicles used by Norwegian soldiers during the exercise, which continued in use despite the discovery of recording capabilities. Deepal electric cars: Deepal is an electric vehicle brand under Changan focused on battery-electric and range-extended models for both domestic and emerging international markets. Its vehicles feature advanced onboard systems including cameras and navigation that automatically store video and location data. At least two Deepal models rented in Norway automatically recorded detailed footage of soldiers and military access procedures during the exercise. European Scrutiny: Chinese electric vehicles have faced growing examination across Western markets over potential compelled data sharing with Chinese authorities, prompting discussions on privacy safeguards in automotive imports. Data Privacy Risks: Norwegian security authorities have highlighted that modern vehicles contain numerous electronic sensors capable of collecting detailed movement and activity data that could be accessed by foreign entities under Chinese law. Military-Civilian Overlap: The Norwegian Armed Forces have relied on civilian rental fleets for operational and exercise support due to limited dedicated vehicle availability, raising questions about vetting protocols for technology-embedded rentals.