Cortez Masto Supports Bill to Ban Chinese Vehicles to Protect National and Economic Security

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) co-sponsored legislation led by Senators Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) to defend the American auto industry from the growing threat of Chinese-made vehicles and component parts. The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 also prevents Americans' data from being harvested and sent to Beijing.

"Communist China subsidizes Chinese automakers with the explicit goal of undermining the auto industry in America and other Democratic countries," said Senator Cortez Masto. "Many of these cars also come equipped with surveillance technology that would jeopardize Americans' privacy. To protect our economy, our workers, and our national security, we must ensure Chinese cars are not sold in America."

Specifically, the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026:

• Prohibits the importation, manufacture, sale, and resale of connected vehicles, software, and hardware linked to China or other foreign adversaries, including those from joint ventures;
• Empowers the Department of Commerce to identify and block high-risk vehicle technologies, components, and transactions that threaten U.S. economic or national security;
• Establishes enforcement mechanisms to ensure prohibited technologies are kept out of the U.S. market; and
• Phases implementation with vehicle and software restrictions taking effect in 2027, and hardware restrictions in 2030.

The full text of this legislation can be found here.

Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to stand up to Communist China and protect American interests in the Pacific. Last year, her FIGHT China Act, prohibiting U.S. investment in certain technologies in China, was signed into law. Senator Cortez Masto has also introduced bipartisan legislation to stand up to China's rapidly expanding space operations, to bolster the U.S.-Taiwan partnership, to ban Communist China from buying land next to American military sites, and to strengthen strategic relationships with American allies in the Pacific.

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