President Joe Biden has expressed concerns about the potential for China to exploit its vehicles for espionage activities and even remotely disable their functions. In response, his administration announced on Thursday that it would initiate an investigation into automakers from specific countries, with China being the primary focus. The investigation, led by the secretary of commerce, aims to assess the risks posed by foreign technology in American cars and take necessary actions to safeguard national security.

Biden highlighted the interconnected nature of modern vehicles, emphasizing their integration with smartphones, navigation systems, critical infrastructure, and the companies behind their production. He raised alarms about the possibility of Chinese-made vehicles collecting sensitive data about American citizens and infrastructure, which could then be transmitted back to China.

Pointing to China’s regulations on American cars operating within its borders, Biden questioned why similar measures couldn’t be implemented in the United States for Chinese vehicles. One prominent Chinese automaker, BYD, has emerged as a key player in the global car market, surpassing Tesla as the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) seller. Despite its international expansion, particularly in countries like Mexico, BYD has stated that it has no intentions of entering the US market due to its complexity.

Gina Raimondo, the secretary of commerce, emphasized the proactive nature of the investigation, aiming to address potential risks before Chinese-manufactured vehicles become widespread in the US. She underscored the potential dangers posed by thousands of Chinese vehicles on American roads that could be susceptible to remote disabling by entities in Beijing. Raimondo warned of the grave national security and privacy implications if foreign adversaries like China were to access such data on a large scale.

The investigation signals the Biden administration’s commitment to safeguarding national security interests in the face of evolving technological threats, particularly from countries like China with significant influence in the automotive industry.