MENA Newswire News Desk: The U.S. Commerce Department has announced a proposal to ban the sale or import of smart vehicles that utilize Chinese or Russian technology due to national security concerns. The proposed rule, revealed by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Sunday, aims to prevent potential cyber threats embedded in the software and hardware of these vehicles.
A federal investigation launched in February identified multiple risks stemming from Chinese and Russian technologies found in U.S. vehicles. The potential dangers include remote hacking, sabotage, and the unauthorized collection of personal data from drivers. Raimondo emphasized the severity of these risks, warning that adversaries could potentially take control of vehicles on U.S. roads, causing crashes or road blockages.
The proposal will not apply to vehicles already operating with Chinese software, but new cars for the model year 2027 and beyond will be affected. The hardware ban will begin in 2030, according to U.S. officials. The rule is part of a broader U.S. effort to secure its technology supply chains, from semiconductors to AI-powered vehicles, amid rising tensions with China.
China has heavily invested in the global smart vehicle market, with increasing competition in Europe causing concern for U.S. officials. The Chinese government has expressed similar worries about American companies such as Tesla, banning them from certain locations within China over data privacy concerns.
The rule focuses on “connected vehicles,” a broad category that includes cars, buses, and trucks equipped with network connections for services like roadside assistance and satellite communications. The regulation would target software and hardware that enable vehicles to communicate with external devices, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular networks.
The Commerce Department will open a 30-day public comment period before finalizing the rule, with the intention of enacting it before the end of the Biden administration. An economic analysis of the costs to automakers and consumers is expected to accompany the proposal. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan underscored the urgency of the move, noting that the risk of disruption and sabotage increases significantly with the proliferation of smart vehicles using Chinese technology. He also pointed out that the U.S. has already seen efforts by China to install malware in American critical infrastructure.
Chinese officials, however, have strongly opposed the proposal. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, urged the U.S. to maintain an open, fair business environment and avoid discriminatory practices against Chinese companies. The U.S. Commerce Department remains firm, stating the action is purely a national security measure, not an attempt to gain economic leverage. This move follows previous actions by the U.S. government to restrict foreign technology deemed a threat to national security. In June, the Commerce Department banned software from Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, known for its global reach in antivirus services.