Senate Leadership Urged to Pass Connected Vehicle Security Act to Counter Chinese Automakers
U.S. automotive industry trade groups and labor unions are pressuring Senate leadership, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), to pass the Connected Vehicle Security Act. This proposed legislation aims to codify a Biden administration rule that would effectively ban Chinese automakers from selling or manufacturing passenger cars with connected technology in the United States without government approval. The bill, introduced by Senators Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), seeks to address concerns about Chinese automotive overcapacity, which is viewed as a harmful product of China's industrial policy, and to mitigate data security risks associated with connected vehicle technology. Codifying the Commerce Department rule would prevent future administrations from easily altering it and would extend restrictions to components like battery electronics and AI-enabled driving software, while also increasing penalties for noncompliance.
