The United States Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) has announced that a vote will take place on July 15th regarding the “2026 Connected Vehicle Safety Act,” which aims to legalize an executive order restricting Chinese-made connected vehicles from entering the U.S. market.
On July 8th, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee released the agenda for the closed-door meeting scheduled for July 15th. The “2026 Connected Vehicle Safety Act,” introduced in April by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio and Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan, is on the agenda. This bipartisan bill aims to formalize an administrative regulation established by the Biden administration, which prohibits all Chinese automakers from selling connected vehicles in the United States.
In February 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated an investigation into connected vehicles from foreign adversaries such as China and Russia under the Information and Communication Technology and Services Act. The inquiry focused on national security risks posed by connected vehicles, regulated components, and the potential ban on imports. In September of the same year, the Department of Commerce officially released a draft specifying the prohibition of Chinese-manufactured connected systems, autonomous driving systems, and the sale of related vehicles in the U.S. Given that connected vehicles can collect daily driving routes, in-car images, phone connection information, and even biometric data in some models – if Chinese manufacturers are bound by Chinese laws, such data could be accessible to the Chinese government.
In January 2025, the Department of Commerce finalized regulations that include starting the prohibition of Chinese and Russian-sourced connected software in 2027 and connected hardware in 2030. Chinese manufacturers will have minimal ability to sell new connected passenger vehicles in the U.S., and the Department of Commerce will hold investigation, determination, and enforcement authority. Many media outlets directly refer to this regulation as the “China Car Ban.”
In March of this year, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing virtually all major automotive companies, urged the U.S. government to continue blocking Chinese automakers from entering the U.S. market, citing concerns over China’s ongoing attempts to dominate the global automotive industry and penetrate the U.S. market.
In April, Senators Moreno and Slotkin jointly proposed elevating the Department of Commerce’s regulation into U.S. federal law, requiring congressional approval for any future repeal. Both senators emphasized in their press release at the time that the U.S. cannot allow China (the CCP) to exploit connected vehicles for data collection or supply chain infiltration. After the legislation, the Department of Commerce’s statutory authority will be further solidified, enabling actions such as transaction bans, import prohibitions, and sales restrictions.
The House of Representatives also took action in early May. On May 7th, House Committee on China Chair and Republican Congressman from Michigan, John Moolenaar, and Democratic Congresswoman from Michigan, Debbie Dingell, officially introduced a bipartisan bill to prohibit Chinese vehicles on U.S. roads.
In a joint statement, Moolenaar and Dingell emphasized that the technological features of modern vehicles have made them potential surveillance tools: “Every vehicle traveling on U.S. roads is a mobile data collection device, capturing real-time information about location, movements, personnel, and infrastructure. We cannot permit Chinese vehicles or components to become part of this system.”
The “2026 Connected Vehicle Safety Act” has received widespread acclaim and support since its enactment. On May 13th, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters issued a public statement endorsing the act and urging Congress to promptly pass it. The Teamsters, one of the largest unions in the U.S. and a influential force in the transportation and logistics sector, not only supports the prohibition of connected vehicles manufactured by China and other hostile countries but also emphasizes the need to protect American manufacturing and jobs, while supporting an expansion of the ban to components.