Newly proposed Congressional laws would require the US to conduct safety opinions for related automobiles constructed by automakers from China and “other countries of concern.” Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official who has championed the problem, launched the invoice on Wednesday.
If handed by Congress (a tall order nowadays), the Linked Car Nationwide Safety Overview Act would set up a proper evaluate course of for related autos from Chinese language firms. It might additionally permit the Division of Commerce to restrict or ban these automobiles and different automobiles earlier than they attain US customers.
“Today’s vehicles are more sophisticated than ever, carrying cameras, radars and other sophisticated sensors, plus the ability to process, transmit and store the data they gather from the United States,” mentioned Slotkin. “If allowed into our markets, Chinese connected vehicles offer the Chinese government a treasure trove of valuable intelligence on the United States, including the potential to collect information on our military bases, critical infrastructure like the power grid and traffic systems, and even locate specific U.S leaders should they so choose.”
In a speech on the Home flooring earlier this month, Slotkin famous that Chinese language EVs, usually offered less expensive than their US and European counterparts, may shortly achieve a major share of the American market. She cited how Chinese language automobiles, first offered in Europe in 2019, now make up virtually 1 / 4 of its market. The consultant additionally not too long ago pushed Secretary of the Military Christine Wormuth and Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin on the safety hole.
Alternatively (and maybe ideally), legislators may go a complete knowledge privateness legislation fairly than coping with these points piecemeal.
The invoice’s introduction follows the Biden Administration’s quadrupling of import tariffs on Chinese language EVs. The White Home’s new EV levies grew from 25 p.c to one hundred pc, following China’s EV exports rising 70 p.c between 2022 and 2023.
In February, the White Home additionally ordered the Division of Commerce to research the dangers of related automobiles from China and different adversaries. Nonetheless, that motion was performed by an govt order and could possibly be undone by future administrations. Slotkin’s laws would shut these loopholes if it makes it by Congress — hardly ever a protected wager in as we speak’s extremely obstructed and contentious political surroundings.