U.S. to Prohibit Chinese Tech in Autonomous Vehicles Over National Security Concerns

The U.S. Commerce Department plans to propose a ban on Chinese software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles citing national security concerns. The proposed regulation would prevent the sale and import of such vehicles from China, and public comments will be solicited before finalizing the rules.

The U.S. Commerce Department is poised to unveil a proposal on Monday that would prohibit Chinese software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles on American roads due to national security concerns, sources revealed to Reuters.

This move signifies an intensification of restrictions on Chinese vehicles, software, and components by the United States. Recently, the Biden administration enforced severe tariff hikes on Chinese imports, including a 100% duty on electric vehicles and additional hikes on EV batteries and critical minerals. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted the significant risks posed by Chinese tech in U.S. vehicles.

The Commerce Department intends to open a 30-day public comment period before finalizing the rules. The prohibitions on software are proposed to start in the 2027 model year, with hardware bans effective from January 2029 or the 2030 model year. The policy will specifically target vehicles equipped with certain Bluetooth, satellite, and wireless features, and extends to other adversarial nations like Russia.

(With inputs from agencies.)