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The US Commerce Department is expected to propose prohibiting Chinese software and hardware used in autonomous vehicles in America by today, as the government believes there are national security concerns.

The Biden administration has notified that the data collection by the Chinese companies on US drivers and vehicle data is a serious concern. 

According to the government’s website, the White House had already signed off on the final proposal on Thursday, which aims to uphold the security of the supply chain for U.S.-connected vehicles. Although the new rule may affect many car makers and vehicles on U.S. roads, the source claims it will not affect agricultural or mining vehicles.

Although the government hopes the rule will protect US citizens, the vehicle industries have raised concerns regarding the possible amendment. A trade group representing major automakers such as General Motors, Toyota Motor, and Volkswagen had warned the government that changing the hardware and software would take time.

The carmakers mentioned the new regulations will require them to undergo pre-production engineering, testing, and validation processes. Additionally, the car manufacturers claimed the hardware and software cannot be easily swapped from a different supplier.

The hint about the US taking action against the collection of sensitive personal data and a government-related plan occurred back in February 2024. In the executive published in February, US President Joe Biden stated:

“Countries of concern can also use access to bulk data sets to fuel the creation and refinement of AI and other advanced technologies, thereby improving their ability to exploit the underlying data and exacerbating the national security and foreign policy threats.”

According to Reuters, after speaking with someone familiar with the matter, the Commerce Department plans to give the public 30 days to comment before any new amendment will be finalized.