President Joe Biden took steps Thursday toward blocking internet-connected Chinese cars and trucks from entry to the US auto market, including electric vehicles, saying they posed risks to national security because their operating systems could send sensitive information to Beijing.
The immediate action was the opening of a Commerce Department investigation into security threats, which could lead to new regulations or restrictions on Chinese vehicles.
But administration officials made clear it was the first step in what could be a wide range of policy responses meant to stop low-cost Chinese electric vehicles — either manufactured in China or assembled by Chinese companies in countries such as Mexico — from flooding the US market and potentially driving domestic automakers out of business.
