US to ban Chinese software in self-driving cars amid national security fears

US regulators are turning up the heat on Chinese autonomous vehicles. — Getty Images/The New York Times

The US Department of Commerce is preparing to hand down the latest blow in an all-out battle between the world’s biggest superpowers over the future of advanced vehicles.

Although the timing is yet unclear, the DOC is reportedly set to propose a rule in the coming weeks that would ban Chinese software from being used in advanced autonomous vehicles and so-called connected vehicles, Reuters reported, citing sources briefed on the matter. The impending rule would affect Level 3 autonomous vehicles and above, which includes vehicles that can self-drive but require a driver, all the way to robo-taxi vehicles that don’t require drivers.