LANSING — Governor Gretchen Whitmer is sounding the alarm on the dangers of Chinese EVs as a threat to both the U.S. automotive industry and national security. In a press release, Whitmer praised bipartisan efforts to address the threats and highlighted the dangers to our economy posed by the autos.
In a statement, Whitmer said, “Our auto industry employes half a million Michiganders in good-paying jobs and is vital to our national economy. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to bring manufacturing back home from overseas, but all of that is at risk if we let cheap, government-subsidized Chinese vehicles into our country. Right now, that’s exactly what’s happening in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Companies that can’t compete with vehicles subsidized by China are selling fewer cars, closing factories, and cutting jobs.”
The statement was in response to The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 prohibits the importation, manufacture, sale, or introduction of connected vehicles originating from or controlled by a foreign adversary—like China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran—into the U.S. and empowers the U.S. Department of Commerce to set up enforcement mechanisms for industry compliance.
“This isn’t just about economics. It’s a national security problem, too. The software in these vehicles can use data gathering to supply China with countless pieces of information about Americans. Action is needed to protect our storied auto industry and the millions of workers who depend on it. The only way we succeed is by working together. I’ll keep working with anyone to bring supply chains back home, create good-paying auto jobs in Michigan, and protect our communities,” Whitmer continued.
