LTA says Yutong electric buses in Singapore have no remote-control functions
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority says its 20 Yutong electric buses do not support remote-control functions, following concerns raised in Norway about possible remote access to Yutong vehicles.
- LTA says Singapore’s 20 Yutong electric buses have no remote-control or over-the-air update capability.
- Norway’s operator Ruter had raised concerns that Yutong could remotely access its buses’ systems.
- LTA has met multiple manufacturers to review cybersecurity measures and ensure compliance with global standards.
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on 17 November 2025 that the 20 Yutong electric public buses operating locally do not support any remote-control features.
The statement followed media queries after Norway’s public transport operator Ruter reported that Yutong had access to its buses’ control systems for diagnostics and software updates.
Ruter had raised concerns that such access could allow the manufacturer to switch the vehicles off remotely.
It also announced stricter cybersecurity requirements and enhanced anti-hacking measures in response to the discovery.
LTA said the Yutong buses in Singapore have been running reliably on public services since 2020.
According to LTA, Yutong confirmed that these units do not support over-the-air software updates and lack any remote-control functionality.
LTA noted Yutong’s public clarification that the buses cannot be remotely controlled or deactivated.
It said Yutong collects operational data solely for maintenance and performance optimisation.
The agency added that where over-the-air updates exist in other markets, such updates occur only with an operator’s explicit approval and do not affect vehicle control systems.
According to a report by electrive, Yutong rejected Ruter’s claims and told Berliner Zeitung that remote access to its vehicles is “technically impossible”.
The report stated that Yutong stores all European Union vehicle data in an Amazon Web Services centre in Frankfurt, using encryption and restricted access protocols.
LTA said the electric buses it procured must comply with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulations.
These regulations require secure design processes, risk management practices, and software update management frameworks throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle.
The authority added that all contractors are required to implement strong data protection measures.
It has also met with Yutong and other manufacturers, including BYD and Zhongtong, to reinforce cybersecurity expectations.
LTA said it will continue working closely with suppliers and will conduct the necessary checks to ensure that risks linked to external connectivity are mitigated effectively.
0 Comments