US wants to ban smart cars with Chinese and Russian technologies
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
The US Department of Commerce is considering a proposal to ban the sale or import of smart vehicles that use certain Chinese or Russian technologies. This potential move is driven by national security concerns, reports CNN.
A US government investigation that began in February has identified several national security risks related to embedded software and hardware from China and Russia in American vehicles. This software could enable remote control through hacking and the collection of personal driver data, according to US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
"In extreme situations, a foreign adversary could shut down or take control of all their vehicles operating in the United States, all at the same time, causing crashes (or) blocking roads," she said.
The rule would not apply to cars already on US roads equipped with Chinese software, a senior administration official told CNN.
According to the Department of Commerce, the ban on software will take effect for model year 2027 vehicles, while the hardware ban will apply to model year 2030 vehicles.
The proposed rule targets connected vehicles, which include nearly all modern cars, buses, or trucks that use network connections for roadside assistance, satellite communications, or a range of other functions.
Following a 30-day public comment period, the department aims to issue a final regulation before the end of the Biden administration's term, according to the senior official.
A recent report by Republican lawmakers noted that US-China partnerships at universities over the past decade have facilitated the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding, aiding Beijing in the development of critical technologies that could be used for military purposes.
