Congress moves to block Chinese-made connected cars amid security concerns

A bipartisan effort led by Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin has cleared the Senate Commerce Committee, advancing the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026. The legislation would embed current Commerce Department restrictions on Chinese-linked vehicle components into law, making them harder to reverse. Advocates contend that modern cars function as data-gathering platforms that could transmit sensitive travel information to Beijing.

The move reflects growing anxiety as Chinese firms like BYD and Geely flood European markets with low-cost electric models, pressuring legacy brands. Critics note that the bill may affect companies with partial Chinese ownership, such as Mercedes-Benz, and could raise vehicle prices for American consumers. Nonetheless, supporters view the measure as a strategic step to avoid repeating Europe’s experience of cheap imports eroding domestic auto capacity.