US issues final rule barring Chinese, Russian connected car tech

The U.S. Commerce Department announced a rule banning import and sale of connected vehicle technologies (VCS and ADS) with ties to China and Russia, including in U.S.-manufactured passenger cars, to mitigate risks of espionage, data harvesting, and potential remote control of vehicles. The policy phases in starting January 2026 for software and January 2029 for hardware, requires annual compliance declarations to BIS, and signals a forthcoming rule for commercial vehicles. The White House framed the move as protection against state-sponsored cyber operations (e.g., Volt Typhoon) targeting critical infrastructure, and the auto industry voiced support, citing the complexity of supply chain changes.