Volvo gets US government approval to bypass Chinese connected-car ban

May 28, 2026

1:03

Volvo gets US government approval to bypass Chinese connected-car ban

Here's something that might just change the game: Volvo, partly owned by China’s Geely, just got the green light from the US government to import connected cars despite a ban on Chinese-linked vehicle software starting in 2027. That’s a big deal because, according to Jonathan M. Gitlin at Ars Technica, the Biden administration’s tariffs and restrictions have aimed to keep Chinese tech out of US-bound cars for years — part of a broader push to limit Chinese influence. But here’s where it gets interesting — automakers like Volvo can now petition for exemptions, and it appears the government is willing to grant them. This move suggests the US is weighing security concerns against economic realities, especially for brands that have roots in China but also serve global markets. So what does this mean? It’s a sign that, even with protectionist policies in place, there's room for negotiation — possibly reshaping how the US approaches connected-car imports and security. If this pattern holds, the next step is a more flexible, case-by-case approach to these tech restrictions.

Volvo Cars got some welcome news from the US Department of Commerce yesterday. The government has told the Swedish automaker, which is partly owned by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding, that it may import connected cars into the US, despite a ban on such vehicle software with Chinese links from model year 2027 onward.

Protectionism is nothing new to the US automotive segment; the absence of foreign-built pickup trucks on US roads is still a consequence of 1964's "chicken tax," for example. More recently, in a rare example of bipartisanship, the focus has been on keeping China out. In 2024, then-President Biden first levied a 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports, followed by a new Commerce rule that prohibited imports of any connected vehicles built by companies owned by or with links to China.

The following year, the Trump administration entered office with very different overall priorities, but there was little daylight between the two on the topic of Chinese cars; the ban would go into effect for software from model year 2027 as planned, with connected vehicle hardware forbidden from model year 2030 onward. Automakers can petition the government for an exemption, though, and it seems they will be granted.

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