US Plans To Ban Chinese Software In Cars

The U.S. Commerce Department is gearing up to throw a wrench into the gears of autonomous and connected vehicles, but this isn’t just about safety or emissions.

It's about the software that runs these machines—specifically, Chinese software. In the next few weeks, the Biden administration is expected to roll out a rule that could ban Chinese-developed software from any vehicle with Level 3 automation or above. According to Reuters, That means more than just a few lines of code; it means effectively barring Chinese-made autonomous vehicles from even being tested on American roads.

The focus here is on national security, or at least that’s the official line. The administration is also planning to block cars with advanced Chinese wireless communications modules from U.S. highways. The way this works is pretty straightforward: Automakers and their suppliers will need to prove that none of their connected or autonomous vehicle software was developed by what the government likes to call a "foreign entity of concern." In plain English, that means China.

Predictably, the Chinese government isn’t thrilled. A spokesperson from their embassy in Washington stressed that electric vehicles are a global business. They want everyone to play nice and stick to international trade rules, but they also made it clear that China will defend its interests if things go sideways.

Behind the scenes, this has been brewing for a while. The White House and the State Department recently hosted a meeting with industry leaders and allies from countries like Germany, Japan, and Australia to talk about the risks of connected vehicles. The discussion wasn't just about keeping hackers out of your car’s infotainment system; it was about the possibility of these vehicles being used to spy on Americans or even take control of the car itself.

The whole debate goes back to concerns raised late last year when U.S. lawmakers started looking into how Chinese companies were testing autonomous vehicles in America. It turns out that in the 12 months leading up to November 2022, Chinese firms racked up over 450,000 miles on California roads. That’s a lot of data being collected, and it raised some red flags in Washington.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has echoed these concerns, pointing out that Chinese autonomous vehicle companies might pose national security risks. It's not just about where the data goes—it's about what those vehicles might do with it.

In the end, it’s a balancing act. The U.S. wants to protect its national security interests, but it also has to navigate the complexities of global trade. As these new rules come down the pipeline, expect the conversation to get louder, especially as automakers and suppliers figure out how to comply without getting caught in the crossfire.

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