Securing American Future from Exploitative Communist Autonomous Research Act

To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide additional safety measures for motor vehicles, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Securing American Future from Exploitative Communist Autonomous Research Act SAFE CAR Act 2. Additional safety measures for motor vehicles (a) Definitions Section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (14) Control The term control (15) Foreign adversary The term foreign adversary . (b) Prohibitions on manufacturing, selling, and importing noncomplying motor vehicles and equipment Section 30112 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: (4) A person who is domiciled in the People’s Republic of China, or a manufacturer who is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party or the Government of the People’s Republic of China, may not manufacture for sale, sell, offer for sale, introduce or deliver for introduction in interstate commerce, or import into the United States any motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment if the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, determines that such vehicle or equipment poses a risk to United States security. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (c) Determination regarding security For purposes of this section, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall determine whether any motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment poses a risk to United States security. . (c) General exemptions Section 30113 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(3)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking and (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and (C) by inserting before subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated) the following: (B) an exemption applied for by a manufacturer who is domiciled in the People’s Republic of China or who is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party or the Government of the People’s Republic of China would not pose a risk to United States security; and ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (i) Prohibition on harmful motor vehicles testing in the United States A motor vehicle may not be granted an exemption under this section if the manufacturer of such vehicle— (1) is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party or the Government of the People’s Republic of China; or (2) shares information with the Chinese Communist Party or the Government of the People’s Republic of China. (j) Determination regarding security For purposes of this section, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall determine whether any motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment poses a risk to United States security. . (d) Special exemptions Section 30114 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(5), by striking significant safety risk. significant safety risk or that such registration has been filed by a manufacturer that is domiciled in a country that is a foreign adversary, owned wholly or partially by a foreign adversary, or located in a country that is a foreign adversary, and such manufacturer poses a risk to United States security. For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Commerce to determine whether such a manufacturer poses a risk to United States security. (2) by adding at the end the following: (c) Prohibition on harmful motor vehicles testing in the United States A motor vehicle may not be granted an exemption under this section if the manufacturer of such vehicle— (1) is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party or the Government of the People’s Republic of China; or (2) shares information with the Chinese Communist Party or the Government of the People’s Republic of China. . (e) Certification of compliance Section 30115(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) Certification label In the case of the certification label affixed by an intermediate or final stage manufacturer of a motor vehicle built in more than 1 stage, each intermediate or final stage manufacturer shall certify with respect to each applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard— (1) that it— (A) has complied with the specifications set forth in the compliance documentation provided by the incomplete motor vehicle manufacturer in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary; or (B) has elected to assume responsibility for compliance with that standard; (2) that the Secretary has determined it is not a threat to security; (3) that it is not under the control of the Chinese Communist Party or the Government of the People’s Republic of China; and (4) that it does not share information with the Chinese Communist Party or the Government of the People’s Republic of China. .

Summary: Securing American Future from Exploitative Communist Autonomous Research Act or the SAFE CAR ActThis bill prohibits certain Chinese-manufactured motor vehicles and equipment (or those of a foreign adversary) that do not meet U.S. safety standards from being imported into or sold in the United States.  Specifically, a person domiciled in China or a manufacturer who is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or the Chinese government may not import into or sell in the United States any motor vehicle or equipment that the Department of Transportation (DOT) determines poses a U.S. security risk. Further, a motor vehicle may not be granted an exemption from certain safety standards (e.g., for autonomous driving technology testing) if the vehicle manufacturer is under the control of or shares information with the CCP or the Chinese government.DOT may revoke the existing registration for an exemption for a low-volume manufacturer if the manufacturer is determined to be a U.S. security risk and is owned by, or located in, a country that is classified as a foreign adversary. An intermediate or final stage manufacturer must also certify (for vehicle safety standard compliance requirements) that (1) DOT has determined that the manufacturer is not a threat to security, and (2) it is not under the control of and does not share information with the CCP or the Chinese government.