Yutong e-buses here can't be controlled remotely by Chinese maker: LTA

The 20 electric public buses made by Yutong on Singapore’s roads cannot be remotely controlled by the Chinese manufacturer, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Nov 17.

- Vanessa Paige Chelvan Correspondent

Electric public buses in Singapore from Chinese firms Yutong (right) and BYD. The Land Transport Authority said buses used in Singapore cannot be remotely controlled by the Chinese manufacturer and they do not support over-the-air software updates, after Norwegian public transport operator Ruter raised cyber security concerns over Yutong buses.

(ST FILE PHOTO)

The buses also do not support over-the-air software updates, LTA added in response to The Straits Times’ questions about the cyber security of such buses, following a report by Norwegian public transport operator Ruter.

Ruter said in late October that tests on the electric buses suggested that Yutong could remotely turn them off.

“This could be exploited to affect the bus,” its report said. The operator now plans to introduce stricter security requirements and step up anti-hacking measures.