Connected vehicles

USA plans restrictions on Chinese software

"A modern car is equipped with a lot of software."(Bild: Viktoria Tom)

The US Department of Commerce is planning restrictions on certain software from China and other countries classified as hostile in connected vehicles. The planned measures are intended to minimize potential safety risks from Chinese technology. 

"We're looking at some components and software - not the whole car - but it would be some of the key components of the vehicle that manage the software and data around the car. Those would have to be made in an allied country," Alan Estevez, undersecretary for industry and security at the Commerce Department, said at a forum in Colorado on Tuesday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry had previously called on the USA to "respect the laws of the market economy and the principles of fair competition".

The planned measures are intended to minimize potential safety risks from Chinese technology in networked vehicles. "A modern car is equipped with a lot of software. It takes lots of pictures, has a drive system, is connected to the phone and knows who you are calling and where you are going," explained Estevez.

Far-reaching effects
Back in May, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced her intention to present rules for connected vehicles from China in the fall. In February, US President Joe Biden's administration launched an investigation into whether imported Chinese vehicles pose any safety risks. The final rules could have far-reaching consequences for the global automotive industry.