A group of U.S. lawmakers has called on Mexico’s newly inaugurated President, Claudia Sheinbaum, to address potential national security risks posed by Chinese-made connected vehicles produced in Mexico.
In a letter led by Michigan Representative Elissa Slotkin and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, the lawmakers urged Sheinbaum to create a national review system for connected electric vehicle (EV) production and to send a delegation to the U.S. by early 2025 to further discuss the issue.
“We believe that this body of data, under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, is a national security threat,” the letter stated, warning that data collected by these vehicles could be used for surveillance or even remote control. Other lawmakers who signed the letter included U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Gary Peters, and Debbie Stabenow.
The letter comes amid rising global concerns about the security implications of connected vehicle technologies and follows recent U.S. proposals to limit foreign vehicle software, particularly from China and Russia.
Chinese automaker BYD has been exploring plans to build a factory in Mexico, which would create around 10,000 jobs.
The issue is part of broader tensions, with the U.S. and several countries imposing or considering tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and related materials. In May, the U.S. imposed a 100-percent tariff on Chinese EVs, while the European Union is set to vote on a 35-percent tariff on Chinese EV imports. Canada has implemented similar tariffs and is also considering restrictions on Chinese software in EVs.
Source: Reuters
