US government investigates Chinese-made smart cars over espionage concerns
The United States Commerce Department is opening an investigation into the national security risks posed by foreign-made hardware and software in smart cars, particularly Chinese-made technology, the department announced.
The new investigation, which could lead to regulations restricting the use of certain car parts in the US, reflects growing concern within the Biden administration that countries such as China could exploit navigation data or connections to car-charging stations, for example, to collect intelligence or sabotage infrastructure.
The inquiry will focus on "connected vehicles," a broad term for virtually any modern car that uses network connections for roadside assistance, satellite communications or a range of other features.
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The US government will investigate the national security risks posed by foreign-made parts in smart cars. Getty Images via CNN
"Connected vehicles from China could collect sensitive data about our citizens and our infrastructure and send this data back to the People's Republic of China (PRC)," Biden said in a statement.
"These vehicles could be remotely accessed or disabled."
Russia, Iran and Venezuela are some of the other countries that US national officials are concerned about when it comes to connected vehicles, according to a senior administration official.
No regulatory action is underway.
Instead, the department is soliciting public comments on whether it will need to restrict certain technology deemed a national security risk.
"We need to protect ourselves," US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters when announcing the investigation.
"The PRC knows that connected vehicles are a security threat."
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US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the inquiry will focus on connected vehilces. AP
Researchers at Department of Energy-funded laboratories have studied potential vulnerabilities in electric vehicle charging stations for years, trying to anticipate how foreign hackers might infiltrate the equipment.
But US officials' security concerns about smart cars have only grown more acute in recent years.
The Commerce Department investigation of Chinese-made technology used in cars is part of a broader struggle between the US and China for a leg up in the automotive market.
The Chinese government has its own concerns about the data gathered by Tesla vehicles, and some Chinese government ministries have barred the vehicles from entering their compounds,
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