The Biden administration is banning Chinese software and certain hardware from internet-connected vehicles in the US. This is being framed as a national security measure, with the administration saying the software poses “a new threat to our national security, including our supply chains.”
This is the same reason for the recent ban of telecommunications equipment from . In that case, the claims had teeth, as documents reportedly showed that Huawei. Today’s announcement goes on to say that China “could use sensitive technology” from connected vehicles “within our supply chains for surveillance and sabotage to undermine national security.”
The rules announced today go beyond just software. It will also include any piece of hardware that connects the vehicle to the outside world, including Bluetooth, cellular, Wi-Fi and satellite components. It also includes cameras, sensors and internal computers. The software ban will go into effect in the 2027 model year, with the related hardware ban starting in the 2030 model year.
The proposed ban includes Russian auto software. The country has, but mainly for home use. Nothing in Russia is as coveted by the world as cheap EVs from Chinese companies like BYD.
This leads us to the main point. Although this proposed ban is for software linked to the Internet, it will effectively block all of China’s auto imports. The software is heavily baked in, as are the hardware components that enable communication. It is currently difficult to find one of these cars in the region, due to recent costs, but this will make it almost impossible.
Government officials, however, are adamant that this is a move to improve national security, and not to block cheap EVs from another market. “Connected vehicles and the technologies they use bring new vulnerabilities and threats, especially for vehicles or components manufactured in the PRC. [People’s Republic of China] and other countries of concern,” said Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser. These speeches were given to journalists at the weekend and they came .
Sullivan went on to point to , China’s alleged attempt to inject malicious code into America’s energy systems, pipelines and other critical infrastructure. US officials fear the system could be used to disable US military bases in the event of an attack on China’s Taiwan or similar military expeditions.
Peter Harrell, who was the National Security Council’s executive director of international economics during the Biden administration, said The New York Times that “this will likely open the door, over several years, to a very broad set of government actions” that may “see continuation” regardless of who wins the presidential election.
It is worth noting that the BYD Seagull, for example,. This makes it much cheaper than American EVs, even after hitting that 100 percent fuel price. A $20,000 fully equipped EV sounds pretty good now. Oh well. It was nice to dream.
Source link
