The White House today announced plans to ban the import of certain auto parts made in China and Russia.
The move follows a U.S. Commerce Department probe into connected vehicle components that began in February. As part of the investigation, officials evaluated the potential national security risks associated with such components. Commerce also collected public feedback on questions such as what mitigation measures could be implemented against risky auto parts.
The planned import ban that the White House announced today is expected to comprise two collections of rules. The first set of restrictions will cover vehicle connectivity systems, while the other will apply to automated driving systems.
The former product category encompasses the networking modules that vehicles use to exchange data with other systems. According to the White House, the proposed import restrictions apply to both the hardware components and software included in such networking modules. Furthermore, the restrictions cover multiple methods of establishing wireless connectivity including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular and satellite technologies.
The other focus of the import restrictions is the software used to power automated driving systems. Those are modules that enable vehicles to navigate public roads autonomously.
The White House stated that the import restrictions will apply to components that are “designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by entities with a sufficient nexus to the PRC or Russia.” Imported vehicles that contain such components will likewise fall under the new rules.
According to Politico, the restrictions will apply to vehicles such as cars, trucks and buses that operate on public roads. Vehicles that are mainly used in other environments such as fields or mines won’t be affected. Additionally, Commerce will allow certain organizations such as small vehicle manufacturers to request exceptions “in order to minimize unanticipated and unnecessary disruption to industry.”
Commerce plans to detail the planned import restrictions in a document known as a notice of proposed rulemaking. According to Bloomberg, interested parties will have 30 days to submit feedback before the rules are finalized. The ban on autonomous driving and connectivity software will apply to vehicles with a model year of 2027 or later, while the restrictions on hardware components are set to take effect in 2029.
“Cars today have cameras, microphones, GPS tracking and other technologies connected to the internet,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. “It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how a foreign adversary with access to this information could pose a serious risk to both our national security and the privacy of U.S. citizens.”
Alongside the proposed import rules, the White House today announced a series of initiatives designed to support small and medium-sized automakers. Commerce is issuing a $9.1 million grant to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in order to boost the state’s electric vehicle supply chain. Separately, the White House has selected investment firm Monroe Capital to launch a fund that will invest up to $1 billion in automakers and vehicle component suppliers.