US eyes curbs to keep Chinese ‘smart cars’ out of the country

Cars to be exported sit at a terminal in the port of Yantai, Shandong province, China Jan 10, 2024. China Daily via REUTERS/File photo

The Biden administration is considering restricting imports of Chinese “smart cars” and related components amid growing U.S. concerns about data security, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The measures would also apply to electric vehicles and parts originating from China, no matter where they are assembled, in a bid to prevent Chinese makers from moving cars and components into the United States through third countries such as Mexico, the report said.

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The measures could also apply to other countries about which the U.S. has data concerns, Bloomberg said.

According to the report, U.S. officials are particularly concerned about the troves of data collected by so-called smart cars, including EVs and other types of connected and autonomous vehicles.