The Biden administration has proposed new rules that would effectively ban Chinese-made vehicles from US roads due to concerns over potential espionage and sabotage facilitated by software and digital connections in the vehicles. The move comes in the wake of Chinese automakers gaining more traction in global markets, exporting high-tech vehicles that pose new security challenges. The US Chamber of Commerce described the proposed rules as a national security action aimed at protecting US critical infrastructure and citizens from foreign adversaries potentially accessing sensitive data and manipulating cars on American roads.
US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized the threat posed by Chinese- or Russian-made in-vehicle technologies connected to the internet, stating that they could endanger national security and the privacy of US citizens. The rules focus on Vehicle Connectivity Systems (VCS) and software integrated into Automated Driving Systems (ADS), with the goal of preventing malicious access by foreign adversaries.
The crackdown on Chinese-made vehicles mirrors previous actions taken against Chinese telecom giant Huawei, as the US aims to safeguard American automakers and their competitiveness, especially in the electric vehicle market. The administration’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, highlighted the risks associated with connected vehicles, pointing to the potential for surveillance and sabotage by foreign adversaries. The new rules aim to deter any national security threats before Chinese technology-equipped vehicles become common on US roads.
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