On Monday, May 11, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced the Connected Vehicle Security Act.

The legislation would prohibit the importation, manufacture, sale, resale or introduction into interstate commerce of connected vehicles, software and hardware linked to China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. Restrictions on vehicles and software would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, with hardware restrictions phased in later around 2030. A violation would carry civil penalties of at least $1.5 million per instance or five times the value of the transaction, whichever is greater. 

“The American auto industry is vital for jobs, national security, and the future of America’s manufacturing base,” Moolenaar said. “China cheats in every industry, and in autos it is overproducing vehicles and components, and selling them for cheap in hopes they will put our companies out of business. These companies should not be allowed to do business in America, and their products shouldn’t be in our cars or threatening our infrastructure."

The day after the bill’s introduction, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer voiced support for the bipartisan measure, citing the importance of keeping auto jobs in Michigan and advancing domestic technology.

“Our auto industry employs half a million Michiganders in good-paying jobs and is vital to our national economy,” Whitmer said. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to bring manufacturing back home from overseas, but all of that is at risk if we let cheap, government-subsidized Chinese vehicles into our country. Right now, that’s exactly what’s happening in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Companies that can’t compete with vehicles subsidized by China are selling fewer cars, closing factories, and cutting jobs."

The Connected Vehicle Security Act builds on actions by two administrations. In 2019, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency regarding foreign threats to America’s information and communications technology supply chain. The Biden administration used that authority to finalize regulations in January 2025 prohibiting connected vehicle software and hardware linked to China and Russia. The bill would codify and expand those protections in statute.

“I am not interested in repeating the mistakes that hollowed out manufacturing communities across this country while politicians told workers globalization would somehow magically work itself out,” Dingell said. “America can compete with anyone in the world when there’s a level playing field because there is nobody better than the American worker. Auto workers are facing uncertainty, but I am certain about one thing: the future of the American auto industry must be built by American workers."

The bill remains in the introductory phase. An identical companion measure was introduced April 29, 2026, in the Senate by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).