Singapore electric buses from China’s Yutong Group cannot be controlled remotely by manufacturer: LTA.

Ruter, Norway’s public transport operator, expressed concerns about the cybersecurity of Chinese-made electric buses, claiming they could be turned off remotely.

However, the Land Transport Authority of Singapore confirmed that none of Singapore’s 20 electric public buses support remote-control functions, in response to CNA’s enquiries.

The revelation has also prompted cybersecurity concerns, with Ruter announcing earlier this month that it has implemented stronger security procedures and increased anti-hacking efforts.

The LTA stated that Singapore has 20 Yutong electric buses that have been functioning satisfactorily on public bus routes since 2020. “Yutong has confirmed that these 20 buses do not support over-the-air software updates or any remote-control function,” the company said.

“We appreciate Yutong’s public statement that their buses cannot be remotely controlled or deactivated, and that the data obtained is only used for vehicle maintenance and performance optimisation.

“Where there are electric buses with over-the-air upgrades elsewhere, they are done with the operator’s explicit permission and have no effect on vehicle control systems.” Yutong had denied Ruter’s allegations, telling German publication Berliner Zeitung that remotely accessing the automobiles is “technically impossible”.

According to the electric mobility website electrive, Yutong says it keeps all vehicle data for the European Union at an Amazon Web Services data centre in Frankfurt.

This is only used for maintenance and performance optimisation, and it is encrypted and protected using restricted access protocols.

The LTA stated that the electric buses it purchased must conform with the most recent international United Nations Economic Commission for Europe regulations.

The laws mandate manufacturers to implement secure design, risk management, and software update management systems throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle.

The LTA demands stringent data protection measures from all contractors, including Yutong, BYD, and Zhongtong.

“LTA will continue to work closely with all bus suppliers and follow up with the necessary checks to ensure that risks associated with external connectivity are properly mitigated,” according to the statement.

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