Oslo:Chinese-made rental cars used during a major Norwegian Armed Forces exercise in September reportedly recorded data on soldiers' movements and activities.

According to Anadolu Agency, the vehicles were rented through Hertz Norway and reportedly had ownership ties to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. At least two of the cars involved were Deepal models made by the Chinese automaker Changan.

Lt. Fredrik Blanck, who participated in the exercise, noted that the recordings captured soldiers entering and exiting the vehicles, their travel routes, the individuals they picked up, and the duration of their stops at various locations. The vehicles also reportedly stored access codes used for military gates and doors. Although these recordings were deleted, it remains unclear if the data was stored elsewhere.

The Norwegian Armed Forces has a rental-car agreement that extends from June 2024 to May 2028. According to Armed Forces press officer Aleksander Engborg Hage, the military acknowledges the risks associated with electronics and vehicles but has no general ban on cars from specific countries.

There has been no immediate response from China regarding this report.