China’s Grip on Connected Cars Slammed: US Issues Shocking Ban on Chinese Software in 2027 Models
- The US government has decided to gradually ban the sale of cars that use software or parts from China or Russia for their autonomous driving or communication functions.
- The US Department of Commerce published a proposed rule banning the import and sale of vehicles with certain hardware or software linked to China or Russia in the...
- VCS is a system where the vehicle exchanges information with the outside world via Bluetooth, cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, etc., and ADS is a system that allows the vehicle...
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Connected vehicles in China
US Government to Ban Sale of Connected Cars with Chinese or Russian Software
The US government has decided to gradually ban the sale of cars that use software or parts from China or Russia for their autonomous driving or communication functions.
The US Department of Commerce published a proposed rule banning the import and sale of vehicles with certain hardware or software linked to China or Russia in the Vehicle Connectivity System (VCS) or Autonomous Driving System (ADS).
VCS is a system where the vehicle exchanges information with the outside world via Bluetooth, cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, etc., and ADS is a system that allows the vehicle to operate on its own without a driver.
What are Connected Vehicles?
Connected vehicles, also known as ‘smart cars’, exchange information with the surroundings via a wireless network and provide functions such as navigation, autonomous driving, and driver assistance systems.
Most vehicles released these days have these functions, and the proposed regulation is a measure to prevent a situation where increased sales of connected vehicles in the United States that have technology from countries hostile to the United States, such as China and Russia, pose a major security risk.
Security Risks and Proposed Rule
Commerce Secretary Gina Lermondo introduced the proposed rule in a briefing and said, “Under extreme circumstances, an adversary could simultaneously disable or control every domestically produced vehicle operating in the United States, causing accidents and impeding ways.”
“The good news is that there aren’t many Chinese or Russian vehicles on American roads right now,” said Secretary Lemondo “We’re not going to wait until our roads are filled with their cars and the risk is very high.”
The proposed rule would also prohibit manufacturers with ties to China or Russia from selling connected vehicles in the United States that use hardware or software for VCS or ADS. This prohibition applies even if the vehicle is made in the United States.
Impact on the Auto Industry
Although the proposed rule is aimed at China and Russia, it will affect all countries that make connected vehicles using software and hardware from these two countries and export them to the United States.
The Commerce Ministry accepted the auto industry’s request and decided to apply the ban starting from model year 2027 for software and model year 2030 for hardware, rather than applying the ban immediately.
The Ministry of Commerce intends to finalize the final regulations after gathering views for 30 days.