The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday proposed banning Chinese software and hardware for vehicles with a built-in internet connection, a move that would in effect ban Chinese vehicles from the US market, Financial Times reported.
The rule follows concerns from the Biden administration about Chinese companies collecting data on American drivers and infrastructure as well as the potential for foreign adversaries to remotely manipulate connected cars on US roads.
It is the latest step in a wider US effort to crack down on Chinese vehicles, software and components. The US already sharply raised tariffs on Chinese imports this year, including a 100 per cent levy on Chinese electric vehicles.
The measure would allow some exceptions to the ban if companies could show they were taking mitigating measures, such as auditing or site checking. But officials said the rule would essentially ban Chinese vehicles.
The White House posted: FACT SHEET: Protecting America from Connected Vehicle Technology from Countries of Concern.
Chinese automakers are seeking to dominate connected vehicle technologies in the United States and globally, posing new threats to our national security, including through our supply chains. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that our automotive supply chains are resilient and secure from foreign threats.
Today, President Biden is announcing strong action to protect America from the national security risks associated with connected vehicle technologies from countries of concern. The Department of Commerce is issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would, if finalized as proposed, prohibit the sale or import of connected vehicles that incorporate certain technology and the import of particular components themselves from countries of concern, specifically the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia.
The announcement is the next step in a process President Biden announced in February, 2024. This NPRM incorporates public feedback submitted in response to the Department’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) issued on March 1, 2024, which sought public comment on the national security technologies used in connected vehicles…
Reuters reported: The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday proposed prohibiting key Chinese software and hardware in connected vehicles on American roads due to national security concerns, a move that would effectively bar Chinese cars and trucks from the U.S. market.
The planned regulations, first reported by Reuters, would also force American and other major automakers in years ahead to remove key Chinese software and hardware from vehicles in the United States.
President Joe Biden’s administration has raised concerns about data collection by connected Chinese vehicles on U.S. drivers and infrastructure and potential foreign manipulation of vehicles connected to the internet and navigation systems. In February, the White House ordered an investigation.
In my opinion, it looks like the Biden-Harris Administration is working on removing Chinese software and hardware from vehicles in the U.S. Doing so should make the roads much safer.