The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a final rule Tuesday that would ban the sale or import of connected vehicles from China and Russia due to na

Biden admin’s final rule banning Chinese connected cars also bars robotaxi testing on U.S. roads

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2025-01-14 23:00:02

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a final rule Tuesday that would ban the sale or import of connected vehicles from China and Russia due to national security concerns. The rule would also bar Chinese car companies, such as WeRide and Pony AI, from testing self-driving cars on U.S. roads.

“China is trying to dominate the future of the auto industry, but connected vehicles with software and hardware systems linked to foreign adversaries could expose the American people to risks of misuse of their sensitive data or interference by malicious actors,” National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard said in a statement, adding that the ruling also ensures “a more secure American auto industry.”

Software bans are scheduled to take effect in the 2027 model year, and hardware prohibitions in 2029. The department said the bans wouldn’t cover Chinese software developed before the new rules take effect, as long as a Chinese firm doesn’t have access to the software.

The final rule also includes exemptions for vehicles heavier than 10,000 pounds, which means China’s BYD could continue to assemble electric buses in California.