A group representing American automakers sent a letter Thursday to congressional leaders asking for a “permanent ban” on Chinese-made cars in the U.S.
John Bozzella, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s CEO and president, described in the letter China’s manufacturing industry as “rooted in a well-documented pattern of unfair trade, subsidies, intellectual property theft and surveillance.”
Bozzella addressed his request to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) — urging them to back a “permanent ban on the sale, import and manufacture of Chinese connected vehicles,” before the 119th Congress concludes in January.
“Right now, Chinese automakers are dumping subsidized vehicles with connected software and hardware around the world,” Bozzella wrote, adding that China “is capturing market share” in Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, Mexico and South America.
“This hasn’t happened inside the U.S. yet, but given the scale and urgency of this threat, we urge you to enact a Chinese vehicle, software and hardware ban before adjourning this year and make this policy the law of the land,” he added.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade organization representing car manufacturers, represents the “entire” U.S. auto industry, per its website.
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in July approved legislation that proposed banning companies with more than 15 percent Chinese ownership from selling vehicles in the U.S.
Under the bill, Mercedes-Benz would be unable to sell cars in the country, as Chinese investors hold nearly 20 percent of the German automaker’s shares.
Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) have introduced similar legislation in the House. Their bill, the “Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026,” has 72 additional co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle.
Referencing those pieces of legislation, Bozzella wrote that lawmakers “are determined to get the details of this policy right.”
He added, “Enacting a permanent ban on Chinese vehicles and high-risk hardware and software in the 119th Congress will send a clear and bipartisan message that China’s strategy to dominate global automotive manufacturing will be met with a national security policy response from the American government.”
