The Norwegian Armed Forces have identified a security breach in vehicles rented from Hertz Norway, which are manufactured by a Chinese company. According to a report first published by The Daily Wire, the vehicles recorded military movements and captured secret gate security codes during operational activities. A spokesman for the Norwegian Armed Forces confirmed to Fox News that recordings were made in vehicles belonging to a Chinese-owned car rental company. The military rents these cars under a multiyear contract valued at $32.8 million for daily tasks and operational use.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers have cited the incident to reinforce concerns about data privacy and national security in the automotive sector. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a former CIA officer, has been a vocal critic of Chinese-connected vehicle technology. "Chinese cars are surveillance packages on wheels, with the ability to collect on American citizens and transmit that data back to Beijing," Slotkin stated. She co-sponsored the Connected Vehicle Security Act in April, which targets Chinese vehicles, software, and critical components. The bill advanced out of committee in July with unanimous support, reflecting a bipartisan concern that aligns with Democratic priorities on data security and industrial policy. Similar anxieties have been raised regarding Waymo’s expansion into Washington, D.C., where camera-equipped autonomous vehicles operate near sensitive government sites.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative leaders have emphasized the strategic implications of Chinese manufacturing penetration into Western infrastructure. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who co-sponsored the Connected Vehicle Security Act with Slotkin, framed the issue as a matter of economic and national sovereignty. President Donald Trump, who has maintained high tariffs on Chinese goods, noted in September that his administration’s trade policies were responsible for keeping Chinese automakers out of the U.S. market. "The tariffs kept them out," Trump said after meeting with President Xi Jinping. However, Trump had previously expressed openness to Chinese manufacturing investments in January, stating, "They want to come in and build a plant to hire you, to hire your friends, and your neighbors. That’s great, I’d love to have China come in." The right’s perspective focuses on the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to foreign-owned technology and the necessity of maintaining strict trade barriers.
What the Numbers Show
The Norwegian military operates under a $32.8 million multiyear contract with Hertz Norway for vehicle rentals. Hertz Norway is operated by a franchise partner, First Rent A Car Norway AS, which determines its own fleet sourcing. A source familiar with the matter confirmed that Hertz does not share customer information with its vehicle manufacturers and that the specific vehicles involved in the Norwegian breach are not operated in the United States. The Connected Vehicle Security Act, introduced in April, received unanimous committee support in July. Waymo, which also uses Chinese-built vehicles in its fleet, states that it installs its proprietary autonomous driving system at a facility in Arizona before deployment. Waymo’s spokesman noted that the company complies with all applicable U.S. laws and federal requirements.
The Bottom Line
The discovery in Norway highlights the growing intersection of consumer automotive technology and national security. While the specific incident involved Hertz Norway and has not been linked to U.S. operations, it underscores the concerns driving the bipartisan Connected Vehicle Security Act. Lawmakers from both parties are pushing to restrict Chinese vehicles and their data-transmitting capabilities on American roads. The status of the Norwegian military’s contract with Hertz remains under review, with no official statement yet on whether they will seek to terminate the agreement. The incident serves as a case study for U.S. policymakers debating how to regulate connected vehicle data and foreign manufacturing influence in critical sectors.