Today, SAFE’s Coalition for Reimagined Mobility (ReMo) submitted a detailed comment letter per the Commerce Department’s request for comment on the national security implications of connected vehicles with foreign components.
While SAFE and ReMo anticipate that this investigation will uncover significant risks, it is imperative that strategic decoupling from foreign adversaries for vehicle components and technologies be done in a way that allows U.S. industry to be a global leader in deploying innovative new technologies and products. The comments detail processes and opportunities for Commerce to navigate these challenging dynamics in a way that strengthens the nation’s long-term economic and national security.
Avery Ash, Executive Director of ReMo, stated,
“Foreign adversaries are cornering and leveraging key supply chains to geopolitical and economic ends—with outcomes that could range from cyberattacks on U.S. soil to the gathering of sensitive information and strategic intelligence.
The scope, scale, and urgency of this national security risk comes at the same time the automotive industry is experiencing a transformational shift. The focus should be on expediting the integration of these technologies to ensure their integrity while safeguarding them from vulnerabilities and disruptions from foreign adversaries.”
Importantly, the proliferation of connected and automated vehicle technology is a net positive for society as they improve the safety and efficiency of our transportation system.
Topics addressed in the comments include:
- Current prevalence of sophisticated Chinese components in the automotive supply chain
- Overlap between connected vehicle and military defense technologies
- Data collection, access, and national security risks
- Cybersecurity vulnerabilities to foreign adversaries
- Benefits of localization and diversification of the ICTS supply chain
- Trade implications for potential vehicles and components built in Mexico, that might otherwise circumvent trade policies or tariffs
Advanced vehicle technologies will define the automotive and transportation sectors for the next several decades and the United States must act to maintain, and in some cases reclaim, our position as the global leader in this industry. Earlier this year, ReMo published its flagship report, Unlocking a 21st Century Mobility System: How to Rethink the Future of Mobility and Restore Leadership in Transportation Innovation, which highlighted these risks and documented the extent of action required by the U.S. government and industry to remain both globally competitive and secure.
You can read the full comment letter here.
About SAFE
SAFE is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization committed to transportation, energy, and supply chain policies that advance the economic and national security of the United States, its partners, and allies. SAFE has convened business and former military leaders since 2004 to support secure, resilient, and sustainable energy solutions. Learn more at secureenergy.org.
About SAFE’s Coalition for Reimagined Mobility (ReMo)
The Coalition for Reimagined Mobility (ReMo) is a global initiative of SAFE, advancing outcomes to shape transportation systems that are better for people and planet. ReMo convenes private and public sector stakeholders, conducts research, and develops policy for the U.S. and Europe to accelerate the deployment and scaling of transportation technologies that advance efficient, sustainable, safe, and secure ways to move people and goods. Learn more at reimaginedmobility.org.
