USA bans connected cars of Chinese and Russian origin
Connected cars can be misused for surveillance and sabotaged remotely. The USA does not like it when China and Russia have a hand on the switch.
(Image: Daniel AJ Sokolov)
The US government bans connected cars with links to the People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation. The reasons are data collection and dependence on the respective manufacturer. In this way, connected cars threaten national security, although this is only an issue with regard to vehicles from the two countries mentioned. Conversely, certain foreign connected cars, including Teslas, have long been banned from driving in sensitive areas in China.
Specifically, a new U.S. Department of Commerce regulation (RIN 0694-AJ56) prohibits transactions involving hardware and/or certain software for vehicle connectivity systems (VCS) and self-driving systems if it is designed, developed, manufactured or supplied by someone under the control or jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau) or the Russian Federation. The ban also applies if such persons manufacture the hardware or software in the USA themselves. This is intended to curb circumvention constructions; Chinese car manufacturers are already preparing to build cars for the US market in Mexico in order to benefit from the USMCA free trade zone (USA, Mexico, Canada).
However, the ban does not apply immediately and not to all vehicles. There are lead times of several years: The trade ban takes effect for software from vehicle model year 2027, for hardware only from 2030 (2029 if there is no vehicle model year). The current regulation also only affects connected vehicles for passenger transport on public roads up to 10,000 pounds (a good 4.5 tons); a separate regulation is to follow for commercial vehicles or other heavier vehicles.
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Exemptions
The US Department of Commerce is preparing general exemptions. Specifically, exemptions are being discussed for vehicles that are on public roads for a maximum of 29 days a year, or that come into the country for repair, conversion, competition, testing, research or exhibition. As well as small series of less than 1,000 units per year. It will also be possible to apply for exemptions for specific products or services.
The legal basis for the new regulations is the state of emergency declared by then President Trump in 2019 (Executive Order 13873), which initially only prohibited telecommunications transactions with companies from "adversary" states, but has since been extended several times, for example to restrict data sales to China, Russia or Iran. The new order was preceded by extensive surveys and a public consultation launched in February last year.
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