A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is pushing legislation that would sharply restrict Chinese connected vehicles in the American market. The proposal, called the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, would not only stop such vehicles from being sold in the United States but also prevent them from being used on US roads.
The bill appears aimed at connected cars because of the data, software, and communications systems built into modern vehicles. Supporters are framing the measure as a national security issue, arguing that internet-linked cars from China could present risks beyond traditional trade or manufacturing concerns.
One of the clearest examples offered by the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Bernie Moreno, involves border crossings. Under his description of the proposal, a driver arriving at a US border in a Chinese vehicle would not be allowed to continue using that car in the country, effectively forcing them to switch vehicles.
If advanced, the measure would mark an aggressive step in Washington’s broader effort to limit technology and infrastructure seen as vulnerable to foreign influence. It also signals that US scrutiny of connected vehicles is expanding from import and sales policy to the question of whether certain cars should be allowed on the street at all.
