Fears of lack of competitiveness drive EV scare story, not national security

The United States has expanded its so-called technology de-risking to Chinese electric vehicles, with the Joe Biden administration ordering an investigation into the potential "national security" risks of Chinese EVs.

Following a Feb 28 presidential executive order to deny "countries of concern" access to bulk sensitive personal data, the US Commerce Department now has its sights set on electric vehicles with Chinese technologies. The Biden administration wants to develop regulations, or restrictions, to address what it alleges are the security risks posed by Chinese EVs.

"It doesn't take a lot of imagination to think of how a foreign government with access to connected vehicles could pose a serious risk to both the country's national security and the personal privacy of US citizens," said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. In a Friday news release, her department identified China as presenting "a particularly acute and persistent threat".