BYD says car data stays in Australia, not China

BYD New Zealand says customer data from its connected vehicles is stored on Australian servers rather than being sent to China, with the company limiting collection to basic information like vehicle identification numbers and email addresses.

BYD Auto NZ general manager Warren Willmot addressed data privacy concerns during a company livestream designed to explain what information the brand’s connected cars collect and where it goes.

“The car is not listening to you talk to your partner. It’s not watching you pick your nose,” Willmot says. “That data is simply not going anywhere.”

Willmot says most data generated by BYD vehicles is operational, including battery status, diagnostics and performance information needed for the car to function. Much of this operational data is not stored for extended periods, he says.

The personal information collected is limited to a vehicle identification number (VIN), email address and login details, which are passed to BYD Australia to enable app functionality and remote access features.

Australian servers, not Chinese

On data storage location, Willmot was specific about where customer information is kept.

“It’s not going to China. It’s not going anywhere globally,” he says.

The VIN and email data sits on Amazon servers in Australia, according to Willmot.

He says BYD’s systems use encrypted communications, secure HTTPS protocols, multifactor authentication and regular vulnerability scanning, following ISO and UN cybersecurity standards. Location data is deleted once its immediate purpose is completed, he says.

Willmot emphasised the level of control available to vehicle owners, saying customers can switch off connected features, decline software updates or delete their data entirely. For owners who remain uncomfortable with any connectivity, BYD can disconnect the vehicle from the network completely.

“Ultimately, this is your data,” Willmot says.

He argues the data collection provides value to owners by enabling smarter charging capabilities and supporting features like digital road user charges.

“We don’t see data as something to exploit,” he says. “It’s something to protect, respect and use responsibly.”

The livestream addresses ongoing concerns about data privacy and Chinese automotive brands, with BYD among several Chinese manufacturers now selling vehicles in New Zealand through local distributors.