US plans to ban import of Chinese and Russian technologies for the automotive industry
The United States is preparing to ban imports of technology and software from China and Russia related to the auto industry, a move that comes amid growing national security concerns as vehicle systems become increasingly dependent on complex software and components. The new legislation is expected to significantly limit foreign companies’ access to the U.S. auto manufacturing market, which could have a major impact on global supply chains and the development of autonomous technology.
US prepares to block imports of Russian and Chinese car software due to risk of cyber attacks
Washington authorities are convinced that technologies and software from Russia and China pose a significant threat to the national security of the United States and its citizens. The reason lies in the high risk of cyberattacks associated with the use of such solutions. The administration of current President Joe Biden has proposed restricting both the sale and import of Russian and Chinese equipment and software for the American automobile industry. According to the US Department of Commerce, this will help protect against a serious cyber threat. This was reported by Bloomberg.
The media reports that the ban will affect car devices and systems that use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular and satellite technologies. US authorities believe that such systems are at risk of “external interference” that could cause serious malfunctions or even become a tool for sabotage.
US Commerce Secretary Warns of Cyber Threats: New Restrictions on Cars with Chinese Software
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stressed in a media interview that the issue is not about trade or economic gains, but about national security. “We are focused on the threats that connected vehicles pose, and those threats to the security of the country and the American people are very real,” Raimondo said.
Raimondo emphasized that modern cars are equipped with cameras, microphones, GPS, and other internet-enabled technologies. According to her, “it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to understand the serious threat to national security and the privacy of American citizens that foreign adversaries could pose if they gained access to this data.” According to Bloomberg, the Biden administration plans to impose restrictions after the U.S. Commerce Department launched an investigation in 2024 into the national security threat posed by Chinese cars. The department then expressed concern that Chinese software installed in American cars could collect personal data from users through embedded sensors and detectors.
The media reports that the new restrictions will apply to vehicles manufactured from 2027 onwards, while the software ban will apply to cars manufactured after 2030. From January 1, 2029, the ban will also apply to cars without a specific year of manufacture. In addition, on June 13, the EU imposed significant tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, but the Chinese association of manufacturers said that these tariffs will not have a significant impact on sales of their cars in European countries.