Biden Administration Seeks To Ban Chinese-Made Software In Cars Over National Security Concerns

The Biden administration is planning to ban Chinese-made software in cars due to national security concerns, the Commerce Department announced on Monday.

The Bureau of Industry and Security, part of the Commerce Department, is expected to issue a rule targeting hardware and software connected to vehicles that are developed in China.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo explained the reasoning behind the move: “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.”

The proposed rule, which would start taking effect in 2027 models and be fully integrated by 2030, will apply to all on-road vehicles, including cars, trucks, and buses. However, it will exclude vehicles not used on public roads, such as agricultural or mining vehicles. The rule also bans the sale of connected vehicles incorporating hardware or software with ties to China or Russia, even if the vehicle is manufactured in the United States.

This initiative marks the latest in a series of economic measures by the Biden administration against China, including increased tariffs on steel, aluminum, semiconductors, and electric vehicles earlier this year.