White House probes Chinese smart cars, cites national security concerns

The White House announced on Thursday, Feb. 29, that the U.S. is launching an investigation into whether Chinese “smart cars” are a national security risk, according to Reuters. The probe could also lead to restrictions due to concern over “connected” car technology, according to the Biden administration.

The U.S. Commerce Department will be handling the investigation. U.S. officials are concerned because vehicles “collect large amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers.” In addition, the White House said that the vehicles use “cameras and sensors to record detailed information on U.S. infrastructure.”

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The Commerce Department warns that Chinese-made vehicles have the potential to be “piloted or disabled remotely.” The probe will also look into self-driving vehicles, according to Reuters.

The investigation comes as the world sees a surge in the popularity of high-tech vehicles from Chinese automakers like BYD. However, President Joe Biden said it’s too early to declare what actions might be taken, according to a White House statement.

China isn’t saying much about the probe by the White House. However, Chinese officials reportedly said that it’s unfair to target a specific country.

China is also reportedly dominating the EV battery supply chain. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the U.S. is trying to find a way to build a China-free supply of EV batteries.

This is not the first time U.S. officials have sounded alarm bells over Chinese-manufactured cars. In November, a bipartisan group of lawmakers raised concerns over Chinese companies testing autonomous vehicles in the U.S., potentially gathering sensitive data.

Now, Biden has joined the chorus of those concerned over security.

“Why should connected vehicles from China be allowed to operate in our country without safeguards?” Biden said.

The Commerce Department said there will be a 60-day window for public comment, after which it will consider any new rules that need to be made. U.S. companies are not immune to the rules, according to the department. U.S. automakers must submit details on their assembled fleet within the country and will be asked to disclose where they license their software.

The investigation into smart cars comes a week after the Biden administration announced plans to replace Chinese-manufactured cranes at national ports. The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration is investing billions of dollars into the project in hopes of preventing China from hacking into the cranes systems.