Selangor Journal
The Department of Commerce building seen in Washington, the United States, on January 26, 2022. — Picture by REUTERS

US to make bid against China software in autonomous vehicles

WASHINGTON, Aug 5 — The United States Commerce Department is expected to propose barring China software in autonomous and connected vehicles in the coming weeks, according to sources briefed on the matter.

The Biden administration plans to issue a proposed rule that would bar China software in vehicles in the United States with Level 3 automation and above, which would have the effect of also banning testing on the United States’ roads of autonomous vehicles produced by China companies.

The administration, in a previously unreported decision, also plans to propose barring vehicles with China-developed advanced wireless communications abilities modules from United States roads, the sources added.

Under the proposal, automakers and suppliers would need to verify that none of their connected vehicle or advanced autonomous vehicle software was developed in a “foreign entity of concern” like China, the sources said.

The department said last month it planned to issue proposed rules on connected vehicles in August and expected to impose limits on some software made in China and other countries deemed adversaries.

Asked for comment, a department spokesman said yesterday it “is concerned about the national security risks associated with connected technologies in connected vehicles”.

The department’s Bureau of Industry and Security will issue a proposed rule that “will focus on specific systems of concern within the vehicle. Industry will also have a chance to review that proposed rule and submit comments”.

The China Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment, but China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry previously urged the United States “to respect the laws of the market economy and principles of fair competition”. It argued that China cars are popular globally because they emerged from fierce market competition and are technologically innovative.

On Wednesday, the White House and State Department hosted a meeting with allies and industry leaders to “jointly address the national security risks associated with connected vehicles”, the department said. Sources said officials disclosed details of the administration’s planned rule.

The meeting included officials from the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom, who “exchanged views on the data and cybersecurity risks associated with connected vehicles and certain components”.

Also known as conditional driving automation, Level 3 involves technology that allows drivers to engage in activities behind the wheel, such as watching movies or using smartphones, but only under some limited conditions.

In November, a group of United States lawmakers raised alarm about China companies collecting and handling sensitive data while testing autonomous vehicles in the United States, and asked questions of 10 major companies including Baidu, Nio, WeRide, Didi Chuxing, Xpeng, Inceptio, Pony.ai, AutoX, Deeproute.ai and Qcraft.

The letters said in the 12 months ended November 2022, China autonomous vehicle companies test drove more than 724,000km in California. In July 2023, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said his department had national security concerns about China autonomous vehicle companies in the United States.

The administration is worried about connected vehicles using the driver monitoring system to listen or record occupants or take control of the vehicle itself.

“The national security risks are quite significant,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in May.

“We decided to take action because this is really serious stuff.”

— Reuters

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