August 05, 2024 – The U.S. government is reportedly planning to propose a ban on the use of Chinese software in autonomous vehicles within the next few weeks, according to Reuters.
Citing unnamed sources, the report indicates that the Biden administration intends to introduce new regulations prohibiting the use of Chinese software in vehicles equipped with Level 3 and above autonomous driving systems. This move would effectively bar Chinese-branded cars from conducting road tests in the United States.
The proposed ban is driven by national security concerns, as the U.S. government fears that smart cars using Chinese software could collect sensitive data about American citizens and infrastructure, potentially transmitting it back to China.
Furthermore, the U.S. is also planning to prohibit vehicles from being equipped with advanced wireless communication systems developed in China. The proposal requires automakers and suppliers to ensure that all their connected vehicles and advanced autonomous driving software are not developed in “Foreign Entities of Concern” such as China.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Commerce expressed concerns about “national security risks associated with connected vehicle technologies.”
It’s worth noting that the U.S. already imposes tariffs of over 100% on Chinese-made electric vehicles, and the Biden administration’s clean energy bill has made it more difficult for automakers to use Chinese-made batteries. This latest measure targeting Chinese autonomous driving software further highlights the U.S.’s vigilance and suppression of Chinese technology.
