Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin back a bill to codify U.S. limits on China-made vehicles and connected technology and curb executive waivers. It has 51 Senate supporters; a bid for unanimous approval was delayed until next week over one senator's concerns.
The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 would cover vehicles made in China or other designated countries of concern, as well as connected-vehicle software and critical hardware linked to those countries. It cleared the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously in July, and its House counterpart has more than 100 cosponsors. Existing Biden-era rules already restrict some connected vehicles with Chinese hardware or software on national-security grounds; tariffs on Chinese EV imports exceed 100%. Supporters cite protecting U.S. manufacturing and concerns that sensitive vehicle data could reach foreign adversaries.
Six trade groups representing manufacturers, including companies such as GM, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Stellantis and Tesla, recently urged the administration to maintain restrictions; the UAW and other labor organizations also back the bill. President Donald Trump has said he would accept Chinese automakers in the U.S. if they make vehicles in U.S. factories, while bill supporters argue local production would not resolve their economic and national-security concerns.
