The U.S. government is setting its sights on potential data and cybersecurity concerns linked to Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles (EVs) and other internet-enabled vehicles. This decision was shared by the Commerce Department last Thursday and the motivation behind this move is to tackle these risks prior to Chinese car manufacturers expanding their footprint in America.
While the U.S. government has not signaled any intentions to implement a direct ban on Chinese-made EVs, they could potentially enforce some sort of limitations on the importation of these vehicles or their constituent parts. This was shared by an administration official, who chose to remain anonymous when speaking to reporters.
The proposed curbs in mind are likely to affect a wide spectrum of autonomous and connected vehicles in addition to associated components. These would not only come from China, but other foreign nations that could potentially pose a security threat, according to the same anonymous official.
This move from the U.S. administration to review the security risks linked to Chinese-manufactured vehicles comes amidst a global rise in popularity of EVs and smart vehicles. Coupled with increasing geopolitical tension, this results in added scrutiny on the data and cybersecurity challenges associated with vehicles manufactured outside of the United States.