US Department of Commerce to Soon Propose Ban on Chinese Software in Autonomous Vehicles

The United States is expected to soon propose rules banning the use of Chinese-made software in autonomous and connected vehicles.

According to major foreign media on the 4th (local time), the U.S. Department of Commerce plans to propose regulations within the next few weeks that prohibit the use of Chinese software in Level 3 or higher autonomous vehicles operating within the country. Level 3 autonomy, also known as conditional automation, refers to autonomous driving technology that allows drivers to watch movies, use smartphones, and perform other activities.

Under this measure, road testing of autonomous vehicles produced by Chinese companies in the U.S. is also expected to be banned.

Previously, in November last year, concerns were raised within U.S. political circles that Chinese companies were collecting and processing sensitive data while testing autonomous vehicles in the United States. It is known that the cumulative test driving distance of autonomous vehicles by Chinese companies in California over the 12 months until November 2022 exceeded 450,000 miles.

Additionally, the Department of Commerce is expected to propose regulations banning vehicles equipped with advanced wireless communication modules developed by China. If this regulation takes effect, automobile manufacturers and parts suppliers will have to prove that the software used in their autonomous or connected vehicles was not produced by 'Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC)' such as China. Regarding this, a Department of Commerce spokesperson said, "We are concerned about national security risks related to connected car communication technologies."

The Department of Commerce will also provide the industry with an opportunity to review the proposed rules and submit comments.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Washington issued a statement through a spokesperson on the same day, emphasizing, "China urges the United States to seriously abide by market principles and international trade rules and to create a fair competitive environment for companies from all countries."