Moreno, Slotkin Win Broad Support to Defend American Auto Industry from CCP-Linked Vehicles

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Elissa Slotkin’s (D-Mich.) Connected Vehicle Security Act unanimously passed out of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to defend America’s auto industry. Following the passage, organizations from across the American automotive ecosystem—including automakers, suppliers, manufacturers, dealers, trucking organizations, labor unions, and national security advocates—praised the legislation for safeguarding one of America’s most critical industries. What They Are Saying: Leading Automakers “General Motors applauds the efforts of Senator Moreno (R-OH) and Slotkin (D-MI) in securing strong bipartisan support and passage of S. 4429, the Connected Vehicle Security Act , via voice vote out of the Senate Commerce Committee,” said General Motors. “GM supports policies that protect and strengthen American manufacturing and the global competitiveness of U.S. automakers, and we remain committed to long-term investments in our domestic workforce, facilities, and technology, and we look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders throughout the process. As we have said many times, we can compete with anyone in the world when we are given a level playing field.” “As the largest auto manufacturer in Ohio, Honda applauds committee passage of the Connected Vehicle Security Act , which seeks to provide a fair and competitive marketplace for U.S. automakers,” said American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “As global competition in the automotive sector intensifies, the bill importantly recognizes how American economic and national security are increasingly connected.” “We are pleased with the committee approval of the Connected Vehicle Security Act ,” said Nissan Motor Co., LTD. “We look forward to continuing to work with Senators Moreno and Slotkin on policies that matter to our customers and strengthen the future of the U.S. automotive industry.” “Stellantis commends the Senate Commerce Committee for unanimously reporting out the Connected Vehicle Security Act ,” said Stellantis N.V. “This is a significant milestone in our collective effort to provide Americans confidence that connected vehicles will remain secure, while supporting innovation and parity across the automotive industry. Stellantis looks forward to continuing to work with Congress to advance this important, bipartisan legislation.” America’s Automotive Industry “Alliance for Automotive Innovation represents the manufacturers producing most vehicles sold today in the U.S. These companies can compete with any company on the planet. The challenge they face today is not competing with Chinese companies but with the entire country of China – namely its industrial policy of state-owned enterprises, heavily subsidized vehicles and unfair trade,” said John Bozzella, president and CEO, Alliance for Automotive Innovation. “This threat warrants an immediate policy response from the American government. Congress should enact a ban on Chinese vehicles and connected systems in the U.S. to correct the current imbalances that are distorting and disrupting the global auto market, disadvantaging domestic automakers and undermining American national security.” “Trucks traverse every corner of our country, and they increasingly rely on sophisticated technologies that help them operate safely, efficiently, and productively.  As these systems become more deeply embedded in our nation’s supply chain, it is critical that they remain secure from foreign adversaries like China,” said American Trucking Associations SVP of Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen. “ATA commends Senators Moreno and Slotkin for advancing a smart, targeted approach to protecting our transportation infrastructure.  Their legislation would help mitigate potential national security threats while ensuring that America remains a leader in the development and deployment of next-generation transportation technologies.” “As an organization comprised of international nameplate auto dealers, we firmly believe that more competition benefits consumers and strengthens the American economy,” said AIADA President & CEO Cody Lusk. “However, what Chinese automakers have done in other markets and would like to do in ours is something altogether different. They seek to enter our country with artificially low prices, subsidized by their government and questionable labor practices, and decimate the American automotive industry. They are singularly focused on dominating our auto market and making Americans reliant on Chinese products and technology. Today’s committee vote is a positive first step in crafting legislation that counters those efforts and works for all Americans.” “The Connected Vehicles Security Act of 2026 (CVSA), as adopted by the Senate Commerce committee, strikes an important balance that addresses key national security concerns associated with today’s technology-enabled vehicles while also ensuring that vehicle suppliers can comply with the requirements,” said MEMA, the Vehicle Suppliers Association. “MEMA appreciates the leadership of Senators Moreno and Slotkin on this legislation, and we look forward to working with them on the CVSA as it continues to move through the legislative process.” “We congratulate Senator Moreno on the unanimous, bipartisan vote to advance the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 out of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee,” said the CAR Coalition. “As government and industry share a commitment to ensuring the automotive supply chain is free of connections to countries of concern, this legislation is a critical step toward making that a reality. The CAR Coalition stands ready to continue working with Senator Moreno to ensure that the U.S. maintains a robust and secure aftermarket supply chain, one that safeguards economic growth and national security.” “The Connected Vehicle Security Act addresses a growing national security priority by protecting the U.S. automotive industrial base from potential risks associated with foreign adversary access to connected vehicle technology,” said Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International. “As vehicles become increasingly connected, autonomous and software-defined, this legislation will help safeguard critical technologies and supply chains while supporting American competitiveness. The Connected Vehicle Security Act helps protect America’s automotive industrial base from foreign adversaries as vehicles become increasingly connected and autonomous.” “OOIDA members, nearly 40% of whom are military veterans, care deeply about both roadway safety and national security,” said Todd Spencer, President, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “It’s unfathomable that 80,000 lb. driverless commercial vehicles currently operating on American roadways rely upon technology from a global adversary for navigation. That’s why OOIDA and the nearly 150,000 small-business truckers we represent applaud the Committee for passing the Connected Vehicle Security Act and we thank Senator Moreno and Senator Slotkin for their leadership on this legislation. Currently, autonomous systems put Americans, their vehicles, and their personal privacy at risk given so many critical unanswered questions related to cybersecurity, operational safety, and data transparency. The safest operator of an 80,000 lb. commercial vehicle on America’s roadways is a well-trained, professional, human truck driver.” American Manufacturing and Labor “Today’s action by the Senate Commerce Committee marks an important step toward protecting American manufacturing and preserving the American Dream. The UAW applauds every member of the committee who voted to advance a strong version of the bill, and we thank the bill’s sponsors, Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin, for their leadership,” said United Auto Workers. “The committee recognized that America needs an auto industry that invests in American workers—not one that rewards dependence on China, whose industrial strategy has leveraged Western brands to expand its market influence while advancing a business model built on low wages and weak labor standards. As the legislation continues to advance, we reiterate our opposition to carve-outs for all multinational corporations. No company should get special treatment. If they want to benefit from policies that strengthen American manufacturing, they should meet the same standards as everyone else. This legislation will help ensure that the next generation of auto investment creates good union jobs, strengthens communities, reinforces America’s manufacturing base, and keeps the future of auto production here in the United States.” “We applaud Senators Moreno and Slotkin for championing American workers,” Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul said. “Congress has taken a major step to safeguard the 11 million American jobs that the U.S. auto supply chain supports. Our national security and economic strength depend on this lynchpin industry. We cannot afford to allow the Chinese auto import flood to hit U.S. shores. Our workers are the best in the world, but Beijing has played every trick in the book to advantage its state-backed auto manufacturers. Allowing Chinese autos to enter our market would set the U.S. into a rigged game that stakes our nation’s whole future.” “The unanimous passage of S.4429, the Connected Vehicle Security Act , through committee is a major victory for American workers, our domestic auto industry, and our national security,” said United Steelworkers International President Roxanne Brown . “This bipartisan legislation recognizes that as technology rapidly changes, it’s essential that we defend our vital automotive supply chain. The USW applauds the Senate for acting decisively to protect good union jobs, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and safeguard the industries that are critical to our nation’s economic and national security.” “AISI commends the Senate Commerce Committee for advancing the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 . This bipartisan action is a critical step toward codifying the Commerce Department’s Connected Vehicle rule into law, ensuring that Chinese automakers cannot manufacture or sell connected vehicles in the United States,” said American Iron and Steel Institute. “As with steel, Chinese vehicles are heavily subsidized by the Chinese government. China is determined to expand its automotive footprint globally by any means necessary, including through a wide variety of unfair and predatory practices. Committee passage of this legislation sends a clear signal that Congress will not allow these massively subsidized vehicles that can collect and transmit sensitive data to gain a foothold in the American market. By keeping Chinese-manufactured vehicles, batteries and connected components out of U.S. commerce, this bill protects our national security and strengthens the entire American automotive supply chain, including the domestic steelmakers who supply it. We thank Senators Moreno and Slotkin for authoring this legislation and members of the committee and its leadership for passing this crucial measure.” “The Steel Manufacturers Association commends the continued leadership of Senator Moreno and Senator Slotkin on behalf of U.S. manufacturing,” said Steel Manufacturers Association Executive Vice President Brandon Farris. “The Connected Vehicle Security Act will safeguard the American auto market from policies by the Chinese government that seek to undercut and overwhelm key industrial sectors. Steelmakers have been on the front lines of this fight, and we support policies such as this that bolster U.S. national security and industrial competitiveness.” “I commend Senator Moreno and Senator Slotkin for introducing The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 and for their successful initiative to advance the bill through the Senate Commerce Committee,” said Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman and CEO, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. “Just like the Chinese steel industry, auto production in China is heavily subsidized and controlled by the Chinese government. The passage of this bill is fundamental to eliminate the risk to our national security embedded into Chinese vehicles and connected components circulating freely within the United States. By eliminating this serious threat from the American homeland, we are also ensuring the Chinese do not undermine President Trump’s commitment to increase manufacturing of cars in the U.S. from a domestic supply chain. Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest supplier of steel to the American automotive industry. Passage of this legislation is critical to protecting more than 25,000 Cleveland-Cliffs steelmaking jobs and millions of American jobs in the auto manufacturing value chain.” National Security & Policy Experts “The Senate Commerce Committee should be applauded for advancing the Connected Vehicle Security Act with its strongest protections intact, turning back every effort to weaken them,” said Daniel Kishi, Senior Policy Advisor, American Compass. “Beijing’s subsidies and beggar-thy-neighbor policies are fueling a rapid Chinese advance across the global auto industry, which threatens American workers, industry, and national security alike. By refusing to soften the legislation’s ownership and hardware standards, the Committee held the line where it matters most: adversary capital will not buy its way into the American market through a Western label.” “The Connected Vehicle Security Act recognizes that cars are now computers on wheels, and we cannot allow the computers on American roads to answer to Beijing,” said Chris McGuire, Senior Fellow for China and Emerging Technologies, Council on Foreign Relations. “This critical piece of legislation would keep compromised Chinese hardware and software out of American vehicles, preventing China from using Americans’ cars to surveil our citizens or map our infrastructure, or even disabling them at will. It would codify commonsense safeguards against real national security risks, protecting US national security and the American auto industry in one stroke. Congress should pass it without delay.” “ITIF endorses the Connected Vehicle Security Act as a critical bulwark, alongside tariffs on Chinese EVs, to ensure that Chinese vehicles—which have benefitted from a plethora of unfair Chinese trade and economic practices including massive industrial subsidies and rampant IP theft—do not decimate the U.S. auto industry or create national security risks from Chinese vehicles on U.S. roads with connectivity components primed directly to do the pernicious bidding of the CCP,” said the Information Technology and Innovation Fund. “Connected vehicle technologies carry cybersecurity risks that must be addressed to safeguard America’s national security,” said Alexandria Paolozzi Moore, FDD Action Senior Director of Government Relations. “FDD Action commends Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin for introducing the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 , which confronts the cybersecurity vulnerabilities in connected vehicle systems and the risks posed by Chinese involvement in the supply chain. As adversaries seek to exploit emerging technologies, securing our transportation infrastructure is critical. This legislation strengthens America’s resilience and ensures the United States is not dependent on adversarial nations for the technology powering its vehicles.” “SAFE strongly supports the Connected Vehicle Security Act which expands current law to combat the growing threat posed by Chinese automakers and suppliers, and the risks they pose to America’s economic and national security,” said Rachel McCleery, Executive Director of SAFE’s Coalition for Reimagined Mobility. “After gaining market access to Mexico and Canada, our geopolitical adversary is even closer to deploying vehicles on U.S. roads – vehicles that collect and transmit sensitive geolocation, infrastructure, and behavioral data at scale. This new legislation is a crucial step towards building secure and resilient supply chains, protecting our industrial base, and blocking real-time espionage and surveillance by foreign adversaries.” Business & Economic Leaders “Ohio is home to a deep automotive supply chain and thousands of manufacturers competing every day in a global marketplace,” said the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association President Ryan Augsburger. “We can compete with anyone, anywhere, when the rules are fair and critical technologies are protected. We appreciate Sens. Moreno and Slotkin for keeping the focus on supply chain security, fair competition and the strength of American manufacturing.” “For decades, Ohio’s economy has benefitted greatly from the numerous automotive manufacturers and their many suppliers throughout our state,” said JP Nauseef, President & CEO, JobsOhio. “These important businesses provide good-paying jobs for thousands of Ohioans and are at the forefront of technological advancement across the automotive industry. As vehicles become increasingly data-driven, policies that strengthen supply chain resilience and protect national security are critical to Ohio’s long-term growth in the automotive sector. I applaud Sen. Moreno and Sen. Slotkin’s efforts to support these important goals advancing Ohio’s economic development momentum.” “I commend every single member of the Senate Commerce Committee for casting a vote that brings us one step closer to making this bill a reality,” said Javier Palomarez, United States Hispanic Business Council President and CEO. “I especially commend Senators Moreno and Slotkin for their leadership in protecting America’s economic and national security. Chinese connected vehicles are a 21st-century Trojan horse. China has already flooded our markets with cheap, subsidized products that crush American business–including countless small businesses in the auto industry supply chain–and leave American workers unemployed. If that wasn’t bad enough, the capacity to collect massive amounts of data, and Chinese companies’ legal obligations to share this data with the Communist Party, means everyday American families would be subjected to the Chinese Communist Party’s surveillance and espionage. To prevent this, the solution is simple: Chinese connected vehicles and their components must never be allowed entry into American markets or American roads. I, once again, commend Senators Moreno and Slotkin for showing the American people the potential that bipartisanship can achieve.”