When I started researching my latest documentary about #autonomous vehicles, I was surprised to learn that a number of Chinese companies have been testing their #driverless tech on U.S. roads for years. Baidu, Didi, WeRide, Pony.ai and AutoX collectively logged over 1.6 million test miles on California’s roads between 2017 and 2023. But now, concerns about the massive amount of data being collected by these cars and the potential implications for national security have led the U.S. government to propose a ban on Chinese connected vehicles. In my latest for CNBC, I explore what these companies were doing here and what impact the increased scrutiny around Chinese connected vehicles could mean for the industry at large. Thanks to our experts without whom this report would not have been possible: Michael Dunne, Lei Xing, Missy Cummings and Marc Veasey https://lnkd.in/eaCEcKTy
Well! What I see here. Chinese automakers have a long history to serve with the best Techs in the world. Keeping in view previous Apple manufacturing a few years back. Cisco devices manufacturing in China. In my book they got already pile of data for US consumer market. What US should be now aware and consider that these vehicles are not further access of Federal government buildings and nearby, because of numerous data transfer to Chinese Intelligence and Russian intelligence interest. Department of State should take strict actions for the monitoring and data being transferred through chipsets installed in these EV.
Chelsey Colbert
2mo
I've been curious about this for years. And even more curious why it's only been recently that people in the US are questioning this. Also: https://yandex.com/company/press_center/press_releases/2021/07-06-2021
Lei Xing
1mo
Thank you for having me on the show!
Speaker/Consultant on Robocars and Exponential Technology [email protected]
2moWhile those vehicles do collect a lot of data, and they could feed it back to Chinese government authorities, it would not be that difficult for any Chinese or other foreign company (including Russian) to drive around with cameras recording all they see. While the self-driving cars have LIDAR etc. for this sort of intelligence work cameras would be 99% of what you want. Any Tesla is constantly recording nearly 360 degree views, and those don't attract any attention in California. Which is to say, I don't think there is a special threat from the autonomous companies. If you don't want any foreign espionage of this sort you have to ban a whole bunch of stuff. Autonomous testing does offer some more plausible explanations for driving every road, but is anybody even asking for explanations? These companies are real self-driving companies. While they might well be doing extra duty for the PLA, they are not simply fronts for spying.