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Lawmakers Race To Make Chinese Car Ban Permanent Before Congress Runs Out Of Time
A bipartisan bill to restrict Chinese and other foreign-made connected vehicles has cleared a Senate committee, but has not yet received a full Senate vote. Supporters are pressing lawmakers to pass it before the current Congress ends, arguing that connected vehicles could pose national security risks and that the measure would protect US manufacturing.
The bill is sponsored by Republican Bernie Moreno and Democrat Elissa Slotkin, and has 57 Senate co-sponsors: 36 Republicans and 21 Democrats. If it does not pass by 3 January 2027, sponsors would need to restart the process in a new Congress; the current proposal would phase in restrictions on vehicles linked to China, North Korea, Russia or Iran, with software rules beginning in 2027 and hardware restrictions in 2030, subject to possible Commerce Department exceptions.
In short
- A bipartisan vehicle security bill awaits a full Senate vote.
- It has 57 Senate co-sponsors.
- If it misses the deadline, sponsors must restart in 2027.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that connected vehicles could expose sensitive data or provide a route to disrupt transport systems, so restricting technology linked to countries viewed as security threats is a prudent precaution. They also say phased rules and possible Commerce Department exceptions could manage risks while giving US manufacturers time to compete and invest.
The case against
Critics could argue that restrictions based on countries of origin may be broader than necessary if security risks can instead be addressed through targeted safeguards, testing and oversight. They may also warn that the rules could raise costs or limit consumer choice, invite retaliation, and disrupt supply chains before the specific risks are clearly demonstrated.
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