The White House said the U.S. Commerce Department is seeking to ban the sale or import of vehicles that use certain Chinese or Russian technology, citing national security concerns.
The government said self-driving and connected cars, which can communicate and share data with other vehicles, could put Americans’ personal information at risk.
“Certain hardware and software in connected vehicles can enable the acquisition of information about geographic regions and critical infrastructure, providing an opportunity for bad actors to disrupt the operation of that infrastructure or the vehicles themselves,” the White House said Monday. “These countries of concern could use critical technologies in our supply chain for surveillance or sabotage to undermine our national security.”
Related Articles | Uber may soon have self-driving cars
The government said that while these types of vehicles could bring many benefits, they also pose a growing threat.
The Commerce Department proposed to ban the import or sale of certain connected vehicle systems designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by entities associated with China or Russia.
But the government said there would be a process in place for cases where exemptions might be granted.
The software ban will take effect for the 2027 model year, while the hardware ban will take effect for the 2030 model year and Jan. 1, 2029 for units without a model year specified.
Related Articles | Consumer Reports’ Most Trusted Used Car Brands
Commerce Department officials have met with automakers and drafted the rules but are still seeking feedback from stakeholders.
There will also be a 30-day public comment period before the proposed rules are finalized.
