U.S. auto industry lobby group urges Congress to permanently ban imports of Chinese cars

[Financial News] A lobbying group representing major automakers urged U.S. lawmakers on the 2nd (local time) to pass legislation permanently banning Chinese-made vehicles during a short session scheduled for next week, after the midterm elections.
CNBC reported that the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents major automakers including General Motors (GM), Toyota and Volkswagen, called for legislation to ban the imports, saying, “The U.S. market must be protected from a flood of imported Chinese vehicles that pose surveillance risks and disadvantage established manufacturers that have made massive long-term investments in U.S. communities.”
The alliance’s move comes as both chambers of the U.S. Congress are pushing to ban imports of German Mercedes-Benz vehicles, with Chinese investors holding about a 20% stake in the company.
Mercedes-Benz, a member of the alliance, plans to work with lawmakers on a balanced policy that would allow its vehicles to continue being sold in the U.S. market.
Last September, senators who spearheaded a bipartisan bill to ban Chinese-made vehicles postponed consideration of a ban on Chinese car imports until November.
Automakers in the alliance are concerned that Chinese companies such as BYD and Geely are flooding the global market with low-priced vehicles and threatening even the production base.
Chinese automakers have recently increased exports to Europe and Latin America.
Alliance chief John Bozzella said the United States should warn China, which seeks to monopolize global auto manufacturing, by drafting legislation in the 119th U.S. Congress to ban Chinese-made cars as well as hardware and software that pose security threats.
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