Safe Driving, Strong Borders: The Biden Administration's Move to Secure the Roads

It's a no-brainer that connected vehicles have brought about numerous benefits, such as improved safety and enhanced navigation. However, this influx of technology has also brought forth new and escalating threats to our national security. The Biden administration has taken a crucial step to address this issue by proposing a rule change that would prohibit the import or sale of technology-connected vehicles and components from countries of concern, namely China and Russia. These "countries of concern" have been identified as posing significant risks to the United States due to their ability to tap into sensitive data and compromise our nation's infrastructure. The proposed rule change would target vehicle connectivity systems, such as Bluetooth, cellular satellite, and Wi-Fi modules, as well as automated driving systems. These technologies, although beneficial, also pose significant security threats. The rule change would also include exemptions for small producers of vehicles to minimize the disruption to the industry. This move is designed to strike a balance between national security concerns and the need for innovation and competition. The timeline for the proposed ban would be as follows: the ban on software would take effect for the Model Year 2027, while the ban on hardware would go into effect for Model Year 2030 or January 1, 2029, for units without a model year.