President Joe Biden’s administration has finalized stringent rules aimed at barring most Chinese-made cars and trucks from the U.S. market, citing national security concerns.
The measures, announced Tuesday, also extend restrictions to Russian vehicles and components, with exemptions for certain heavy commercial vehicles.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized the importance of the crackdown, stating, “We don’t want two million Chinese cars on the road and then realize … we have a threat.” The restrictions include bans on Chinese software and hardware in connected vehicles, phased in starting with software in the 2027 model year and hardware in 2029. Additionally, Chinese automakers will be prohibited from testing self-driving cars on U.S. roads.
The rules exempt vehicles over 10,000 pounds, allowing Chinese automaker BYD to continue assembling electric buses in California. However, a senior official noted that automakers like General Motors and Ford may still import some Chinese-made vehicles if they meet specific criteria.
Legacy software developed by Chinese firms before the rule’s effective date is also exempt, provided it is no longer maintained by Chinese companies.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing major automakers such as Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai, had sought an additional year to comply with hardware requirements but was unsuccessful. Polestar, the Swedish brand owned by China’s Geely, warned that the rules could effectively bar its vehicles from the U.S. without specific authorization.
These measures follow the Biden administration’s September imposition of steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and the listing of Chinese battery giant CATL as aiding China’s military.
The incoming Trump administration, set to take office on Jan. 20, has signaled openness to allowing Chinese automakers to build vehicles in the U.S. while maintaining import restrictions.
