MichMash: Congress shows bipartisan concern over electric vehicle testing in China
The Detroit News Washington correspondent Riley Beggin sits down with Cheyna Roth to explain the situation.
Attendees look at the electric Han EV sedan from Chinese automaker BYD during the Auto Shanghai 2023 show in Shanghai, on April 19, 2023.
As electric vehicles increase in production and popularity, autonomous vehicle testing from China is having both Republicans and Democrats concerned.
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The Detroit News Washington correspondent Riley Beggin sits down with Cheyna Roth to help navigate this major area in the automotive industry.
In this episode:
- Michigan lawmakers are raising concerns about Chinese autonomous vehicle testing in the U.S.
- 95 members of Congress want the strongest feasible emission standards
- Task Force launched to combat child labor
- How all of the Michigan GOP Representatives are supporting former President Donald Trump
It’s a rarity when there is large bipartisanship in Congress. Beggin shares fear of China’s involvement in the auto industry is drawing Democrats and Republicans to join in opposition to China’s practices.
“Concern over China is the main area in which people are seeing eye to eye,” Beggin says. There is a lot of concern of China allegedly stealing trade secrets.
Many cars have autonomous functions that include cameras to regulate driving. Lawmakers are weary that China may be using these technologies as surveillance tools.
And in regard to national security, America and China are turning more into geopolitical rivals.
“China has been, mostly, our economic competitor for the United States. Over the last several decades we’ve had a pretty open trade relationship with them, but recently there has been a lot of more revelation that Chinese companies [are] stealing intellectual property — using American innovation to advance economic interests in China,” Beggin explains.
A lot of the tension between the U.S. and China can be seen in the topic of sovereignty of Taiwan. China believes Taiwan to not be its own country while America believes it is but doesn’t outright acknowledge it.
Listen to the entire episode using the media player above.
More from MichMash:
- Detroit Today: Why many Republicans are calling for loosening of labor laws
- America’s relationship with China has changed — what does that mean?
- Lawmakers Still On Board with Michigan’s Autonomous Vehicle Laws
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