The Biden administration has introduced new proposed measures aimed at protecting the United States’ national security from potential risks associated with connected vehicle technologies originating from China and Russia. The Department of Commerce has outlined a proposed rule that, once finalized, would prohibit the import or sale of connected vehicles and related components that are designed, developed, or manufactured by entities tied to these countries.
The focus of the rule is on “vehicle connectivity systems” (VCS), which include technologies like Bluetooth, satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi modules, as well as “automated driving systems” (ADS) that enable autonomous vehicle operation.
The Commerce Department expressed concern that these technologies present significant risks, including the potential for surveillance, sabotage, and disruption of critical infrastructure. The rule follows a public feedback process initiated in March and would restrict the import of VCS and ADS software starting with the model year 2027, while hardware imports would be banned beginning with the model year 2030. Small-scale producers may be granted exemptions to minimize disruption within the industry.
In a statement released on Monday, the White House underscored the growing security threats posed by connected vehicles, which are capable of collecting sensitive driver data, tracking driver locations, and gathering information on critical infrastructure. The administration warned that countries like China and Russia could exploit these capabilities to compromise U.S. national security.
“These technologies include computer systems that control vehicle movement and collect sensitive driver and passenger data as well as cameras and sensors that enable automated driving systems and record detailed information about American infrastructure,” the White House said. The administration emphasized that certain connected vehicle hardware and software could provide opportunities for malicious actors to access geographic or infrastructure data, potentially disrupting critical systems or the vehicles themselves.
The proposed rule builds on an initiative President Biden launched in February to address national security concerns tied to foreign technologies in connected vehicles, particularly those from China that “could be remotely accessed or disabled.”
This latest action follows earlier efforts to safeguard the U.S. auto industry. In May, President Biden raised tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles from 25% to 100%, and the Inflation Reduction Act tied a $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit to vehicles manufactured in the U.S. or North America.
“Cars today have cameras, microphones, GPS tracking, and other technologies connected to the internet. It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how a foreign adversary with access to this information could pose a serious risk to both our national security and the privacy of U.S. citizens,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “To address these national security concerns, the Commerce Department is taking targeted, proactive steps to keep PRC and Russian-manufactured technologies off American roads.”
