US proposes banning Chinese software in autonomous vehicles: Report 

The US Commerce Department is slated to put forth banning Chinese software in autonomous and connected vehicles in the next few weeks, persons in the know informed Reuters. 

The Biden administration is looking at issuing a rule that would forbid Chinese software in vehicles in the United States of America, with Level 3 automation and above, the newswire noted. This could also include banning the testing of Chinese autonomous vehicles on American roads, Reuters noted. 

Persons in the know additionally informed Reuters that the government could also put a ban on vehicles with Chinese  developed advanced wireless communications abilities modules from US roads. 

Automakers and suppliers need to ascertain that neither their connected vehicle nor their vehicle software for autonomous vehicles, was made in a "foreign entity of concern," like China, sources informed the newswire. 

The US Commerce Department had last month issued proposed rules on connected vehicles in August and expected to place limits on some China made software, and other countries deemed adversaries, the newswire reported. 

When asked to comment on the issue, a representative from the Commerce Department said that it was "concerned about national security risks associated with connected technologies in connected vehicles."  

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said EVs are a globalised industry, adding that, "China urges the U.S. to earnestly abide by market principles and international trade rules, and create a level playing field for companies from all countries. China will firmly defend its lawful rights and interests."

In November, a group of U.S. lawmakers flagged issues about Chinese companies collecting and handling sensitive data while testing autonomous vehicles in the United States and asked questions of 10 major companies including Baidu , Nio, WeRide, Didi, Xpeng, Inceptio, Pony.ai, AutoX, Deeproute.ai and Qcraf, the newswire noted.

The administration is worried about connected vehicles using the driver monitoring system to listen in to or record conversations of occupants or take control of the vehicle itself, Reuters reported.