Two US Democratic lawmakers on 29 May introduced legislation to bar Chinese connected vehicles from entering the United States through Canada and Mexico, citing national security risks and threats to the American auto industry. The bill, unveiled at the Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan, marks the latest escalation in Washington's effort to limit Chinese automotive technology on American roads.

What the Bill Proposes

Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Senator Elissa Slotkin announced the Protecting America from Chinese Cars Act, which would prohibit connected vehicles manufactured in China or produced by Chinese companies from crossing into the United States. The restrictions would extend to vehicles produced by any company in which Chinese firms hold more than a 15 per cent stake.

The bill would also require US Customs and Border Protection to establish enforcement procedures and compile a list of prohibited vehicles within 90 days of enactment. A process for manufacturers to seek specific authorisations for otherwise prohibited vehicles would be created, subject to strict conditions, transparency requirements, and congressional oversight.

The National Security Argument

Slotkin framed the threat in stark terms, describing Chinese connected vehicles as 'surveillance packages on wheels — fully capable of geolocating individual drivers, collecting full-motion video, and mapping sensitive infrastructure sites, including our military.' She said the legislation 'builds on my bipartisan Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 and bans fully finished Chinese vehicles from driving over in any capacity, even just for the day.'

Stevens echoed the concern, stating: 'The Chinese Communist Party should never have access to sensitive information about American drivers, roads, or critical infrastructure. The Protect America from Chinese Cars Act closes dangerous loopholes that currently allow Chinese connected vehicles to enter the United States through Canada and Mexico.'

Why the Northern and Southern Borders Are in Focus

The lawmakers pointed to China's rapidly expanding footprint in neighbouring markets as the trigger for the legislation. Chinese automakers, heavily subsidised by Beijing, have aggressively expanded in Europe and South America, according to the bill's sponsors. Chinese vehicles now account for roughly 15 per cent of the Mexican market, the lawmakers noted.

They also flagged Canada's January 2026 trade agreement with China, which will significantly reduce tariffs on tens of thousands of Chinese vehicles — a development they described as placing the threat 'at both of our backyards, to the North and South.'

Broader Legislative Context

The bill builds on a growing bipartisan consensus in Washington that modern vehicles — equipped with cameras, sensors, and internet-connected systems — collect vast amounts of sensitive data. Policymakers across party lines have raised concerns that Chinese-made or Chinese-linked vehicles could channel that data to Beijing. This legislation represents one of the most direct attempts yet to close border-level loopholes that existing rules have not addressed.

With Michigan's auto industry directly in the political frame, the bill also carries an economic dimension: Stevens explicitly cited the need to 'stand up for Michigan autoworkers who build the best vehicles in the world.' How quickly the legislation advances through Congress will be closely watched by both the domestic auto sector and Chinese vehicle manufacturers with ambitions in North America.