US could spy on Germany through Tesla cars – regional spy chief
A senior German intelligence official has warned that American-made vehicles like Tesla could expose sensitive military and government facilities to potential espionage risks.
Stephan Kramer, the head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency (BfV) in the state of Thuringia, has warned that Tesla vehicles could pose an espionage risk to sensitive military and government facilities. His remarks follow German officials' calls for restrictions on parking internet-connected cars near critical sites.
Security Concerns
Kramer was commenting on the Bundeswehr's decision to restrict access by internet-connected vehicles to sensitive areas of military bases, applying to all manufacturers including Tesla. The electric carmaker, led by Elon Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, operates a major factory near Berlin.
Data Collection Capabilities
According to Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), most new vehicles sold in the country can collect location data, camera footage and sensor readings, transmitting them to manufacturers' systems. Customers are often unaware of exactly what data their vehicles generate and transmit.
The intelligence chief called for restrictions in "particularly sensitive areas of government buildings, police facilities, intelligence agencies and other security-relevant institutions," and advised civil servants against discussing confidential matters inside internet-connected vehicles.
Political Response
Several MPs echoed Kramer's concerns, including Marc Henrichmann of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU and Johannes Schaetzl, a digital policy spokesman for the SPD. Henrichmann noted that "espionage today is no longer carried out solely by agents, but also through technology that we ourselves bring onto our premises."
Schaetzl expressed particular concern about vehicles produced by Chinese automaker BYD, describing them as "black boxes" due to uncertainty about data collection and access. Last month, Tesla reported delivering more vehicles globally than Mercedes-Benz's passenger-car division in the third quarter of 2026, amid growing competition from Chinese manufacturers.
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