US to probe if Chinese cars pose national data security risks

The United States is opening an investigation into whether Chinese vehicle imports pose national security risks

The United States is opening an investigation into whether Chinese vehicle imports pose national security risks and could impose restrictions due to concerns about "connected" car technology, the White House said on Thursday (Feb 29).

The US Commerce Department probe is needed because vehicles "collect large amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers (and) regularly use their cameras and sensors to record detailed information on US infrastructure", the White House said.

As vehicles could "be piloted or disabled remotely" the probe will also look at autonomous vehicles.

"China's policies could flood our market with its vehicles, posing risks to our national security," President Joe Biden said in a statement. "I’m not going to let that happen on my watch."

White House officials told reporters it was too early to say what action might be taken and said there was no decision on a potential ban or restrictions on connected Chinese vehicles.

Officials told reporters the US government has wide legal powers and could take action with a potentially "large impact".