A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to tighten national security by requiring mandatory reviews of connected vehicles manufactured by Chinese companies. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), centers on the potential security risks posed by these vehicles, which could theoretically be exploited for intelligence gathering purposes.

The bill empowers the Department of Commerce to take decisive action, including limitations or complete bans on the import of connected vehicles from China. This development comes amidst heightened tensions between the U.S. and China, with the Biden administration recently quadrupling import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Representative Slotkin expressed concerns that Chinese-made connected vehicles could be leveraged for the systematic collection of sensitive data within the United States. The data, she argues, could be used to compromise national security. The proposed legislation represents a proactive approach to safeguarding American interests in the burgeoning connected vehicle industry.