Overview
- Ford disclosed Monday that it has applied to the U.S. Commerce Department for authorization to continue importing the China‑built Lincoln Nautilus ahead of planned 2027‑model shipments.
- The Nautilus uses software developed in the United States but installed into vehicles in China, which places it squarely inside the rule that bans most Chinese‑developed or maintained connected‑car software for model year 2027 and later.
- The Commerce Department can grant case‑specific authorizations, and Volvo received one in May, but the agency does not publish individual applications or decisions, leaving automakers uncertain about who will get relief.
- Industry researchers and suppliers warn the separate hardware restrictions set for model year 2030 will be harder and costlier to meet, and some firms are already shifting production or forcing suppliers to remove China‑sourced parts.
- For dealers and buyers the outcome will determine whether China‑built models stay on U.S. lots, and observers say the key near‑term markers to watch are Commerce rulings, automakers’ production moves, and possible congressional changes to the rule.