Lawmakers introduced legislation on Friday to permanently ban Chinese-made connected vehicles and related technology from being sold in the U.S. [1, 2, 3].

This move signals a shift from temporary administrative restrictions to permanent law, potentially locking out Chinese automotive technology from the American market to mitigate cyber-threats.

The legislative push includes two versions of the proposal. In the House of Representatives, a group of Michigan lawmakers introduced the bill, which was co-signed by two legislators, one Republican and one Democrat [1]. In the Senate, Senators Jeff Moreno and Mark Slotkin introduced a bipartisan version of the measure [2].

Lawmakers said the ban is necessary to protect national security. The primary concern cited is the prevention of potential cyber-threats originating from connected cars manufactured in China [1, 3, 4].

The proposed legislation would build upon existing restrictions. President Joe Biden signed an executive order in early 2025 that already imposed heavy restrictions on Chinese connected vehicles [5]. The new bills seek to make these prohibitions permanent rather than relying on executive action.

There are varying descriptions regarding the scope of the ban. Some reports indicate the legislation would permanently block all Chinese vehicles from the U.S. [1, 3]. However, other accounts specify that the bills target connected vehicles and their associated technology rather than every vehicle manufactured in China [1, 2].

“Lawmakers say the ban is needed to protect national security”

This legislative effort represents an escalation of the technological trade war between the U.S. and China. By moving from an executive order to statutory law, lawmakers are attempting to create a long-term barrier that survives changes in presidential administrations. The focus on 'connected' vehicles highlights the U.S. government's view of automotive software and data collection as a critical intelligence vulnerability.