INDEX / DIRECTORY / BYD / DIGITAL

BYD DIGITAL

DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AUDIT UPDATED 2026-07-10
Digital Score 0.00 /10 D BYD - BDS-1000 311
Digital 0.00

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Digital Audit: BYD

BYD Company Ltd. - Digital Domain Audit

Enterprise Technology Stack & Vendor Relationships

Israeli-Origin Cybersecurity Software

BYD contracted Karamba Security Ltd. (Hod Hasharon, Israel) in June 2024 to deploy VCode software for automated Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) creation across BYD’s global fleet of electronic control units (ECUs) 1. The deployment supports compliance with UN Regulation 155 (UN R155), the mandatory automotive cybersecurity standard effective in the EU, Japan, South Korea, and other major markets as of 2024 1. The contract provides Karamba binary-level visibility into all software components operating on BYD’s ECUs and is integrated directly into BYD’s continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines 1.

Karamba Security Ltd. and Upstream Security Ltd. (both Israeli-domiciled companies) maintain a formal Threat and Vulnerability Management (TVM) partnership announced on September 4, 2023 2. Under this arrangement, Karamba provides endpoint ECU security analysis while Upstream delivers cloud-based vehicle data ingestion and threat detection across its monitored fleet 2. BYD is not named as a participant in the specific September 2023 partnership announcement 2.

No evidence was identified of BYD holding licensing, subscription, or integration relationships with Check Point Software Technologies, Wiz, SentinelOne, CyberArk, Nice Ltd., Verint, Claroty, or Palo Alto Networks 234. No public evidence identified.

Procurement Integrator Relationships

Shlomo Motors Ltd. serves as BYD’s sole authorized national importer and distributor in Israel for both passenger vehicles and electric buses 5. BYD appointed Shlomo Motors as distributor for new energy passenger vehicles in August 2022 5. Shlomo Motors operates 38 branches across Israel, with its headquarters address recorded at PO Box 382, Nir Zvi 7290500 and its Petah Tikva showroom located at Efal 36 67. Whether Shlomo Motors operates any branch inside a West Bank settlement municipality was not confirmed from available sources 67.

BYD’s authorized Israeli passenger vehicle distribution network consists exclusively of Shlomo Motors (operating under the Clal Motors brand) as the sole importer 57. Active BYD passenger models in the Israeli market include ATTO 3, ATTO 2, Dolphin, Dolphin Surf, SEAL, SEALION, SEALION 7, TANG, and SEAL 6 DM-i 58.

BYD’s electric bus customer in Israel is Egged Transportation Ltd., the country’s largest public transport operator 910. BYD e-buses have operated on Haifa routes since 2017 9. Egged Israel took delivery of 10 new 12-meter BYD e-buses for Jerusalem route 15 in September 2019 11. BYD secured a landmark 100-bus order from Egged in November 2021, valued at approximately USD 80 million (approximately 240 million ILS), with support from Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Environmental Protection 1012. BYD led electric vehicle deliveries in Israel during November 2022 8.

Scale of Dependency

The Karamba Security VCode contract covers all ECUs across BYD’s global vehicle fleet for UN R155 regulatory compliance, indicating integration at a critical enterprise infrastructure level affecting supply-chain cybersecurity and regulatory compliance obligations 1.

No evidence was identified of Israeli-origin technology embedded in BYD’s core cloud platform, customer data analytics systems, or primary network infrastructure based on public corporate disclosures 13413. No public evidence identified.

Surveillance, Biometrics & Retail Technology

Facial Recognition & Biometrics

No evidence was identified of BYD deploying facial recognition, gait analysis, or behavioral analytics technologies sourced from Israeli vendors (including Trigo, BriefCam, AnyVision/Oosto, or Trax) in its vehicles or facilities 234. No public evidence identified.

Predictive Analytics & Workforce Surveillance

No evidence was identified of BYD utilizing Israeli-origin predictive policing, sentiment analysis, social media monitoring, or workforce surveillance tools 23413. No public evidence identified.

BYD Vehicle-Integrated Cameras and Data Collection

BYD vehicles sold in Israel include a Driver Monitoring System (DMS) camera equipped with a physical cover switch and panoramic cameras that process data “locally at the vehicle end” and do “not store captured data” 14. BYD Europe explicitly states that its vehicles collect certain data but emphasizes local processing without storage for panoramic camera systems 14.

A class action lawsuit seeking approximately 300 million ILS has been filed against BYD and Shlomo Motors in Israel’s Central District Court sitting in Lod 1516. The lawsuit alleges that BYD vehicles systematically collect video, audio, GPS location, biometric data, child identification information, and driving behavior data without informed consent and transfer this information to servers located in China in alleged violation of Israel’s Protection of Privacy Law 1981 171516. The lawsuit characterizes the vehicles as “espionage systems” 1715. Pearl Cohen Law Firm, with partners Haim Ravia and Tal Ron, represents the applicants 16. The motion for class certification is active as of approximately January 2026 1516.

Third-Party Deployment

No evidence was confirmed that Israeli surveillance technology reaches BYD indirectly via bundled enterprise software suites, managed security services, or third-party platform providers 123413. BYD’s confirmed Israeli technology vendor is limited to Karamba Security for endpoint SBOM cybersecurity 1. No public evidence identified.

Cloud Infrastructure, Data Residency & Sovereign Cloud Participation

Data Centre Operations in Israel

No evidence was identified of BYD operating, leasing, or co-locating data centre infrastructure within Israel 181413. No public evidence identified.

Government Cloud Contracts

BYD’s participation in Project Nimbus, the Israeli government’s approximately $1.2 billion cloud infrastructure program with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud, has not been confirmed 192021. No public evidence identified linking BYD to Project Nimbus.

BYD has no confirmed participation in Israeli government information technology tenders beyond the Egged bus supply contracts, which constitute public-transport procurement rather than cloud or IT services 910. No public evidence identified.

Data Sovereignty & Resilience Services

BYD Europe’s privacy policy, effective July 25, 2022, explicitly discloses: “BYD Europe may transfer Personal Data to a third country or international organisations outside of the EU/EEA, such as to China” 18. BYD Europe invokes EU Model Clauses as the legal transfer mechanism for such cross-border data flows 18. No Israel-specific data processing agreement or local server option is offered to Israeli customers under available public disclosures 1814.

BYD’s “How BYD Protects Your Privacy & Data” page describes cloud services compliance programs but does not specify the geographic location where Israeli vehicle data is processed or stored 14.

No evidence was identified of BYD providing services explicitly marketed to ensure digital sovereignty, data residency, or infrastructure resilience for Israeli state institutions or military bodies 181413. No public evidence identified.

Defence, Intelligence & Security Sector Technology Relationships

Military & Intelligence Contracts

Israel’s Ministry of Defense officially suspended the supply of BYD vehicles to IDF officers since approximately 2025–2026, citing national security concerns over data collection through embedded communication systems and sensors 21. Over 600 vehicles were affected by the suspension 21.

The IDF has been phasing out BYD and other Chinese-origin electric vehicles since 2022 due to espionage concerns 2021. IDF forces had previously received BYD Atto 3 vehicles for lieutenant colonel use 2021. The Ministry of Defense confirmed the suspension of the IDF BYD Atto 3 fleet 2021.

BYD is not confirmed to have any direct contractual relationship with Israel’s Ministry of Defense, IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet, or other state security bodies for administrative information technology, communications infrastructure, data hosting, or analytics platforms 202113. No public evidence identified.

The landmark BYD bus supply contracts are with Egged (a public transport operator) and are supported by Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Environmental Protection, which are civilian transportation ministries, not defense entities 91022.

Dual-Use Technology Provision

BYD’s connected vehicles collect and transmit vehicle telemetry, location, and behavioral data to servers based in China 171514. This data collection capability and the resulting Israeli regulatory and legal responses constitute a documented dual-use technology issue in the Israeli context 191715.

The Israeli Ministry of Transportation is actively developing binding cybersecurity rules for connected vehicles, with a Knesset memorandum published in December 2025, directly triggered by concerns over BYD data collection 19. The proposed legislation would authorize the Minister of Transportation to set over-the-air update permissions, vehicle data collection and transmission limits, manufacturer remote-disabling authority, and Israeli security authority oversight over connected vehicles 19.

No evidence was confirmed that BYD’s commercially available technology has been publicly reported or documented by researchers as being deployed for military, intelligence, or law enforcement surveillance applications within Israel or occupied territories by Israeli state actors 1917202113. No public evidence identified.

Offensive Cyber & Weapons Technology

No evidence was identified of BYD developing, selling, licensing, or maintaining offensive cyber capabilities, zero-day exploit tools, or digital weapons systems 13. No public evidence identified.

AI, Algorithmic & Autonomous Systems

AI/ML Provision to State Bodies

No evidence was identified of BYD providing artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, or autonomous decision-support systems to Israeli state, military, or security bodies 13. No public evidence identified.

Training Data & Model Development

No evidence was identified of BYD’s AI models or platforms being trained on, or provided access to, civilian population data, intercepted communications, or surveillance-derived datasets originating from Israel or occupied territories 181413. No public evidence identified.

Autonomous Systems & Lethality

No evidence was identified of BYD providing autonomous target generation, automated threat detection, or autonomous tracking systems to Israeli military or security forces 13. No public evidence identified.

BYD Vehicle-Integrated AI Features

BYD vehicles sold globally, including in Israel, utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820A Automotive platform for integrated infotainment and digital cluster systems, selected in January 2018 and deployed from approximately 2019 onward 23. BYD also employs ECARX (Nasdaq: ECX) cockpit technology in newer vehicle models 23. Neither platform is confirmed to route Israeli vehicle data through Israeli infrastructure 23.

BYD vehicles include a Driver Monitoring System (DMS) camera with AI-based detection capabilities and a physical privacy cover switch, along with panoramic cameras that process data locally without server-side storage 14.

Technology Ecosystem & R&D Footprint

Israeli R&D Centres

BYD does not have a confirmed R&D centre, engineering office, or innovation lab in Israel 24. BYD’s global R&D footprint, documented as 11 research institutes, is listed on BYDglobal.com with no Israeli facility included 24. A media report referencing “The Chinese giant’s Tel Aviv R&D center, which employs about 40 people” pertains to Alibaba Group, not BYD; Alibaba closed its Israeli development centre in June 2022 25.

Acquisitions & Investments

No evidence was identified of BYD acquiring any Israeli-origin technology companies, or making strategic investments in Israeli technology startups or venture funds 13. No public evidence identified.

Patent & Intellectual Property

No evidence was identified of BYD co-filing patents with Israeli entities, or holding licensing agreements or co-development arrangements with Israeli-domiciled entities or research institutions including the Technion, Hebrew University, Weizmann Institute, Bar Ilan University, or IDC Herzliya 24. No public evidence identified.

Civil Society Scrutiny & Regulatory History

NGO & Academic Reports

BYD is not named in the UN OHCHR database of business enterprises involved in settlement activity (List A, entries 1–158, updated September 2025 under A/HRC/60/19) 2627. BYD is not named in the DBIO V (Don’t Buy Into Occupation) report published November 2025, which lists 104 companies involved in settlements, occupation, and genocide 2829. Named technology-sector actors in the DBIO V report include Amazon, Boeing, and Cellebrite DI, with other confirmed named companies including Airbnb, Booking.com, Caterpillar, Google, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, RE/MAX, Tripadvisor, Volvo, and ZIM - BYD is absent from all available summaries 2829.

BYD is not named in UN A/HRC/59/23 (Albanese, July 2025), titled “From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide” 3031. The report’s named technology-sector actors include Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Microsoft, HP, IBM, and Palantir; BYD is not cited 3031.

BYD is not named in predecessor UN Special Rapporteur reports (A/HRC/49/87, A/HRC/52/76, A/77/336), which focus on settler violence, Palestinian rights, and settlement expansion with no confirmed automotive OEM or connected vehicle technology company references 30. No public evidence identified.

BYD is not found in the Who Profits database (whoprofits.org), the AFSC Investigate database (investigate.afsc.org), or Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch reports specifically addressing BYD’s technology relationships with the Israeli state 32. No public evidence identified.

Egged Transportation Ltd., BYD’s bus customer, is explicitly listed in the UN OHCHR settlement database (entry #51, activity code (e): “providing services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements”) 2633. Egged Taavura Ltd. (Egged’s subsidiary) is documented by Who Profits as operating bus lines to West Bank settlements including Gush Etzion, Ma’ale Adumim, Giva’at Ze’ev, Binyamin, Kiryat Arba, Jordan Valley, Shiloh, and Otniel, and holding contracts with COGAT and the Israeli Civil Administration 32. Egged Heseim (another Egged subsidiary) provides tours to the City of David settler complex in Silwan (occupied East Jerusalem), Bethlehem, Jericho, and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights 32.

Boycott & Divestment Campaigns

No organized boycott, divestment, or sanctions campaign specifically targeting BYD related to its technology provision to Israeli state institutions or settlement operations has been identified 2829. No public evidence identified.

Regulatory & Legal Actions

A class action lawsuit seeking approximately 300 million ILS is active against BYD and Shlomo Motors in Israel’s Central District Court (Lod), alleging unlawful collection and processing of personal data from vehicle users in violation of Israel’s Protection of Privacy Law 1981 1516. The motion for class certification is filed and active as of approximately January 2026 1516.

The Israeli Ministry of Transportation is developing binding cybersecurity rules for connected vehicles, with a Knesset memorandum published in December 2025, directly triggered by concerns over Chinese EV data collection including BYD 19. The proposed bill would authorize the Minister of Transportation to set over-the-air update permissions, vehicle data collection and transmission limits, manufacturer remote-disabling authority, and Israeli security authority oversight 19.

Israel’s Ministry of Defense suspended BYD vehicle supply to IDF officers on national security grounds during 2025–2026 21.

Controlling Principals

Founder, Chairman, and CEO Wang Chuanfu made a visit to Israel in September 2023 as a guest of Shlomo Motors 34. No government or defense meeting counterparties were confirmed from available sources 34.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE) fully exited its BYD equity position (peak approximately 8%, acquired in 2008 for $230 million at Charlie Munger’s urging) by Q1 2025 35. Charlie Munger is deceased (November 2023) 35. No Berkshire Hathaway affiliate retains confirmed BYD equity exposure as of the most recent available disclosures 35.

Li Lu, founder of Himalaya Capital (the fund manager who introduced Charlie Munger to BYD), manages a value-investing fund with no confirmed Israeli defense, surveillance, or cyber technology holdings in its Q1 2026 13F portfolio; reported top holdings include Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, PDD Holdings, East West Bancorp, Moody’s, and S&P Global 3637.

No investments in Israeli surveillance, cyber, AI, or military-technology firms (including NSO Group, Cellebrite DI, Carbyne, AnyVision, Wiz, Palantir Israel, Check Point, SentinelOne, Verint, or Nice) were identified for BYD’s founder, shareholders holding 10% or more of shares outstanding, or key executives 353637. No public evidence identified.

End Notes

Footnotes

  1. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/06/04/2893079/0/en/Leading-EV-Manufacturer-BYD-Selects-Karamba-Security-to-Meet-Global-Automotive-Cybersecurity-Regulations.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  2. https://karambasecurity.com/press/2023-09-04-karamba-upstream-partner-end-to-end-automotive-vulnerability-mgmt-tvm ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  3. https://karambasecurity.com/press ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. https://upstream.auto/partners ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  5. https://www.byd.com/eu/news-list/BYD-Appoints-Shlomo-Motors-as-Distributor-for-New-Energy-Passenger-Vehicles-in-Israel ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  6. https://www.car-importers.org.il/Members_en/trucks ↩ ↩2

  7. https://www.linkedin.com/company/clal-motors-ltd- ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. https://www.byd.com/eu/news-list/BYD-Leads-Electric-Vehicle-Deliveries-in-Israel-in-November ↩ ↩2

  9. https://www.bydeurope.com/article/234 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  10. https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/israel-largest-electric-bus-order-byd ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  11. https://www.facebook.com/bydeurope/posts/egged-israels-largest-public-transport-operator-has-taken-delivery-of-10-new-12m/2871048192908538 ↩

  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl2KVh-gsD0 ↩

  13. https://s203.q4cdn.com/359152850/files/doc_financials/2024/ar/2024-Annual-Report-on-Form-20-F.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12

  14. https://www.byd.com/eu/ownership/how-byd-protects-your-privacy-data ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BspklB513FE ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  16. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pearl-cohen_pearlcohen-dataprivacy-privacylaw-activity-7456994971628412928-i3JL ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  17. https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1lywp85/chinese_electric_cars_in_israel_found_to_be ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  18. https://www.bydeurope.com/privacy-policy ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  19. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ujxpwqu5y ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  20. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-swerves-away-from-chinese-cars-driven-by-worries-of-spies-lurking-in-everyday-tech ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  21. https://www.sofx.com/idf-halts-deployment-of-chinese-electric-vehicles-due-to-espionage-fears ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  22. https://www.car-importers.org.il/assets/files/67791698268525.pdf ↩

  23. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinas-byd-selects-qualcomm-automotive-solutions-to-help-drive-immersive-connected-and-intelligent-in-vehicle-experiences-300579277.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  24. https://www.bydglobal.com/en/InnovationByd.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  25. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/tech-news/2022-06-28/ty-article/.premium/chinese-giant-alibaba-to-close-israel-office/00000181-a8b9-de3f-a9af-edbdc2c80000 ↩

  26. https://www.ohchr.org/en/business/bhr-database ↩ ↩2

  27. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/business-database-26sep25 ↩

  28. https://www.alhaq.org/publications/26931.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  29. https://dontbuyintooccupation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-DBIO-V-report-1.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  30. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc5923-economy-occupation-economy-genocide-report-special-rapporteur ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  31. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/1/un-report-lists-companies-complicit-in-israels-genocide-who-are-they ↩ ↩2

  32. https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/4065 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  33. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_operating_in_West_Bank_settlements ↩

  34. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-chinas-byd-chairman-wang-chuanfu-visits-israel-1001457388 ↩ ↩2

  35. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/21/buffett-byd-exits-stake.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  36. https://www.himcap.com ↩ ↩2

  37. https://stockcircle.com/portfolio/himalaya-capital ↩ ↩2