U.S. Moves to Ban Chinese Tech in Autonomous Vehicles

The U.S. Commerce Department plans to prohibit Chinese software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles on U.S. roads due to national security concerns. The proposed regulation aims to ban import and sale of Chinese vehicles with key communication or automated driving system components, with 2027 and 2029 as target dates for software and hardware restrictions respectively.

The U.S. Commerce Department is poised to propose a ban on Chinese software and hardware in autonomous vehicles operating on U.S. roads, citing national security concerns, sources told Reuters on Monday.

The Biden administration has flagged worries about data collection by Chinese companies on American drivers and infrastructure, as well as the potential foreign manipulation of connected vehicles. The proposed legislation would prohibit the import and sale of Chinese vehicles equipped with key communications or automated driving system software or hardware components.

According to sources, the department will allow a 30-day public comment period before finalizing the rules. The regulations are expected to make software prohibitions effective beginning with the 2027 model year, while hardware prohibitions would commence in January 2029. The Commerce Department declined to comment on the matter on Saturday.