Overview
- Michigan Democrats Rep. Haley Stevens and Sen. Elissa Slotkin introduced the Protecting America from Chinese Cars Act, which was unveiled on Tuesday and now begins the standard committee and floor process in Congress.
- The bill would ban “connected vehicles” that are manufactured or designed in China or produced by companies more than 15 percent owned by Chinese entities from entering the United States, including temporary border crossings.
- The legislation asks U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish implementing rules and maintain a list of prohibited vehicles to enforce the ban if the law is enacted.
- Supporters frame the measure as a national security and privacy safeguard, warning that connected cars can collect geolocation, full-motion video, and detailed mapping of infrastructure that could be accessed by foreign authorities.
- The push comes as Canada agreed in January to allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs at a reduced tariff and as experts caution that blocking physical imports may not address risks from embedded foreign software in global auto supply chains, a development that could reshape trade, consumer choices, and industry sourcing.