Slotkin ban on Chinese cars clears Senate committee Legislation to prohibit the sale of vehicles or connected software and hardware made by companies with significant links to China or other countries of concern was advanced by a U.S. Senate committee. U.S. Sens. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, introduced the measure, saying the People's Republic of China is targeting export markets and that so-called connected vehicles, which transmit data and can even allow for remote control of autonomous vehicles, pose "substantial economic and national security risks" in the United States. But even as he allowed the bill to move forward on Wednesday, July 22, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said it isn't likely to pass the full Senate without a change to a portion of the bill that limits ownership by a covered country to 15%. That, Cruz said, would prohibit Mercedes-Benz (with just under 20% of its ownership tied to Chinese entities or individuals) from selling vehicles in the United States, even though the German-based automaker produces vehicles in South Carolina and Alabama. Cruz called for the bill to be amended in the future to let an interagency group, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CIFUS), determine whether ownership posed a risk no matter what percentage was controlled by foreign investors or countries. He also said the 15% cutoff was "retaliation" by the UAW, which supports the legislation, for its failure to unionize two Mercedes-Benz plants in Alabama two years ago. Cruz allowed the bill to proceed to the full Senate without a formal roll call vote on the committee. As written, the legislation would, after Jan. 1, 2027, prohibit the import or sale of any connected vehicle made or designed in China, North Korea,