🚗 🇳🇴 🇨🇳 Chinese-owned rental cars used by the Norwegian Armed Forces reportedly recorded soldiers, their movements and security codes during a major military exercise in Oslo, raising serious questions about the security of vehicles used in sensitive military operations.

The incident occurred during Operation Hovedstad, held from September 14 to 18, when Norway’s Home Guard District 02 trained for security operations, including scenarios involving the defence of Oslo Airport during wartime.

The Armed Forces had rented the cars through Hertz Norway under a nationwide rental agreement signed in 2024, worth up to 350 million Norwegian kroner and running until May 2028. Hertz Norway’s ownership chain ultimately leads to China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which also owns Volvo Cars. The agreement provides rental vehicles for exercises, operational activities and everyday military use.

During the exercise, soldiers discovered that the cars had recorded and stored video footage. Lieutenant Fredrik Blanck told Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) that the recordings showed who entered and exited the vehicles, where they travelled, whom they picked up and how long they remained at different locations.

More concerningly, the footage reportedly captured security codes entered by soldiers when opening military gates. Some access points require both a key card and a code, meaning the recordings could expose sensitive access procedures.

The vehicles remained in use throughout the exercise because alternative transport was in limited supply.

📎 GeoInsider