Chinese cars in the United States: what is sold, what is blocked, and why
Facts checked
No Chinese-brand passenger car is offered for retail sale in the United States. Two federal measures account for that. The first is tariffs: under the Section 301 four-year review, the additional duty on electric vehicles from China rose to 100 percent for goods entered on or after 27 September 2024, on top of the ordinary duty; separate Section 232 action added a 25 percent duty on imported passenger vehicles and light trucks from 3 April 2025. The second is a security rule. On 16 January 2025 the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security published a final rule on connected vehicles (90 FR 5360), in force from 17 March 2025 and codified at 15 CFR part 791 subpart D. It prohibits importing Vehicle Connectivity System hardware and importing or selling completed connected vehicles containing covered software designed, developed, manufactured or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of China or Russia. A separate prohibition at 15 CFR 791.304 bars a connected-vehicle manufacturer that is itself owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of China or Russia from selling completed connected vehicles in the United States at all.
The compliance dates sit in the exemptions at 15 CFR 791.308. The covered-software prohibition, and the 791.304 manufacturer prohibition, apply to vehicles manufactured from model year 2027. The hardware prohibition applies from model year 2030, or to VCS hardware units with no associated model year imported on or after 1 January 2029. Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating above 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) fall outside the rule's definition of a connected vehicle.
The rule reaches Chinese-owned brands that are not Chinese-badged. Volvo Cars said on 26 May 2026 that it had received a specific authorization from the Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services allowing it to keep importing and selling connected vehicles in the United States. Polestar said on 25 June 2026 that the Commerce Department had not granted it an authorization, that it will stop selling new vehicles in the United States from model year 2027, that it will continue to sell remaining Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 stock and run its service network, and that it would not appeal. Lotus, also controlled by Geely Holding, sells only the UK-built Emira in the United States; Lotus Americas has attributed the absence of the China-built Eletre and Emeya to import duties.
China-built cars wearing Western badges have been sold in the United States for years and are being moved out. The Buick Envision is built only in China by the SAIC-GM joint venture and has been sold in the United States since the 2016 model year; General Motors said on 22 January 2026 that the next generation will be built in the United States. Ford has built the Lincoln Nautilus in China since 2024 and said on 12 August 2026 that it will move production of some Lincoln models to the United States from 2030. Volvo's China-built S90 was withdrawn from the US line-up in 2025. Legislation is pending but not law: S. 4429, the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, was introduced on 29 April 2026 and ordered reported by the Senate Commerce Committee on 22 July 2026.
At a glance
| Country code | US |
|---|---|
| Region | North America |
| Market status | Closed |
| Brands recorded | 5 |
| Chinese-owned plants | 1 |
| Models on this site | 11 |
Brands sold in the United States
| Brand | Status | Since | Route to market | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 沃尔沃Volvo Cars | Sold | 2010 | The company itself | The date given is the start of Chinese ownership: Geely Holding acquired Volvo Cars in 2010. Volvo has sold cars in the United States since well before that; cnautohr did not verify the first year of US sales. Volvo Cars said on 26 May 2026 that it holds a specific authorization under the connected-vehicles rule. |
| 极星Polestar | Withdrawn | not published | The company itself | Polestar said on 25 June 2026 that the Commerce Department did not grant it an authorization under the connected-vehicles rule and that it will stop selling new vehicles in the United States from model year 2027. It said it will continue to sell existing Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 stock and to provide service. The first year of Polestar US sales was not verified. |
| 路特斯Lotus | Sold | not published | The company itself | Only the UK-built Emira is offered. Lotus Americas has said US tariffs stopped plans to sell the China-built Eletre and Emeya (MotorTrend, 29 July 2026). Lotus is controlled by Geely Holding. |
| 春风CFMoto | Sold | 2007 | The company itself | CFMOTO USA states on its own site that it has operated from its current facility since 2007. Motorcycles were added to the US line-up in 2022; ATV imports are reported from 2002, which cnautohr did not verify. Powersports vehicles, not passenger cars. |
| 比亚迪商用车BYD Commercial Vehicles | Sold | not published | Local assembly | Battery-electric transit buses built in Lancaster, California. The business trades as RIDE and describes itself on its own site as the US spin-off of BYD; NHTSA's vPIC manufacturer record lists the legal name BYD Coach & Bus LLC. cnautohr could not verify the current ownership split or the date of the spin-off. |
The rules
Stated from the document that issued them, with the date each was read. Nothing here is an interpretation.
| Rule | What it says | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 301: 100 percent duty on electric vehicles from China | The US Trade Representative's notice of modification raised the Section 301 additional duty on electric vehicles from China to 100 percent for products entered for consumption on or after 27 September 2024. The notice names eight HTSUS subheadings: 8702.40.31, 8702.40.61, 8702.90.31, 8702.90.61, 8703.60.00, 8703.70.00, 8703.80.00 and 8703.90.01. | Office of the United States Trade Representative, via GovInfo | |
| Section 301: batteries, parts and minerals | The same notice set 25 percent on lithium-ion EV batteries, battery parts other than lithium-ion batteries, other critical minerals, steel and aluminium products and ship-to-shore cranes from 27 September 2024; 50 percent on semiconductors from 1 January 2025; and 25 percent on non-EV lithium-ion batteries, natural graphite and permanent magnets from 1 January 2026. Increases dated 2025 and 2026 apply to goods entered on or after 1 January of that year. | Office of the United States Trade Representative, via GovInfo | |
| Section 232: 25 percent duty on imported vehicles and parts | Proclamation 10908 of 26 March 2025, published at 90 FR 14705 on 3 April 2025, imposed a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on imported passenger vehicles and light trucks from 12:01 a.m. EDT on 3 April 2025, and on listed automobile parts on or before 3 May 2025. It applies to imports from all sources, not only China. For vehicles qualifying for USMCA preference, importers may seek approval to apply the tariff only to non-US content. | The White House, via GovInfo | |
| Connected-vehicle rule: what is prohibited | 15 CFR 791.302 prohibits a VCS hardware importer from knowingly importing Vehicle Connectivity System hardware designed, developed, manufactured or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of China or Russia. 15 CFR 791.303 prohibits a connected-vehicle manufacturer from knowingly importing or selling in the United States completed connected vehicles incorporating covered software from those persons. 15 CFR 791.304 prohibits a connected-vehicle manufacturer that is itself owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of China or Russia from knowingly selling completed connected vehicles in the United States that incorporate VCS hardware or covered software, whatever their origin, and from offering commercial services in the United States using completed connected vehicles with an Automated Driving System. | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, National Archives | |
| Connected-vehicle rule: compliance dates | The exemptions at 15 CFR 791.308 fix the timing. Covered-software transactions under 791.303, and manufacturer transactions under 791.304, are exempt only where the completed connected vehicle was manufactured before model year 2027. VCS hardware is exempt where it is associated with a vehicle model year before 2030, or, for units not associated with a vehicle model year, where the import occurs before 1 January 2029. | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, National Archives | |
| Connected-vehicle rule: scope and weight limit | A connected vehicle is defined at 15 CFR 791.301 as a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power, manufactured primarily for use on public roads, that integrates onboard networked hardware with automotive software systems to communicate wirelessly with another network or device. Vehicles operated only on a rail line are excluded, and so is any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating above 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds). The rule names China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and Russia. | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, National Archives | |
| Connected-vehicle rule: authorizations | 15 CFR 791.306 and 791.307 let BIS issue general authorizations and grant specific authorizations for transactions the subpart would otherwise prohibit. Volvo Cars announced on 26 May 2026 that it had received a specific authorization from the Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services, after discussions with the Commerce Department about its governance, technology and data-security practices. Polestar said on 25 June 2026 that it had not been granted one. | Volvo Car AB, via PR Newswire | |
| Pending legislation: S. 4429, Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 | A bill, not law. S. 4429 was introduced in the Senate on 29 April 2026 by Senator Bernie Moreno with Senator Elissa Slotkin and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the committee ordered it reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute on 22 July 2026. As introduced, it would prohibit the importation, manufacture, sale, resale or introduction into interstate commerce of connected vehicles, covered software and connected-vehicle hardware associated with four covered countries: North Korea, China, Russia and Iran. Its ownership tests differ from the Commerce rule: more than 15 percent of the equity interest, voting interest, board representation or other indicia of control for connected vehicles, and more than 25 percent for covered software and connected-vehicle hardware. As introduced it would apply to connected vehicles and covered software from 1 January 2027 and to hardware from 1 January 2030. | 119th Congress, via GovInfo | |
| Importing a vehicle privately | Under 49 CFR 591.5 an importer must file a declaration when a vehicle is offered for importation. Paragraph (i)(1) covers a vehicle that is 25 or more years old. A vehicle that does not comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and is not 25 years old may be imported under paragraph (f) only through, or under contract with, an importer registered with NHTSA under 49 CFR part 592, for a model and model year the Administrator has ruled eligible under 49 CFR part 593, and against a bond of 150 percent of the dutiable value. These declarations address safety standards; they do not displace the tariffs above or the prohibitions in 15 CFR part 791 subpart D. | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, National Archives |
Chinese-owned plants in the United States
| Owner | Location | Since | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Commercial Vehicles | Lancaster, California | not published | Battery-electric transit bus assembly, operating as RIDE (legal name BYD Coach & Bus LLC on NHTSA's manufacturer record). The site states the buses are made in Lancaster; cnautohr did not verify the opening date or the current ownership. |
Western badges built in China and sold in the United States
| Model | Badge | Plant | Years | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envision | Buick | SAIC-GM, China | 2016 onwards | Built only in China by the SAIC-GM joint venture and sold in the United States since the 2016 model year. General Motors said on 22 January 2026 that it will move production of the next-generation Envision from China to the United States. |
| Nautilus | Lincoln | Changan Ford, China | 2024 onwards | Lincoln has built the Nautilus in China at its Changan Ford joint venture since 2024. Ford said on 12 August 2026 that it plans to move production of some Lincoln models from China to the United States beginning in 2030. |
| S90 | Volvo | Daqing, Heilongjiang | 2017 to 2025 | The S90 was built at Volvo's Daqing plant and exported to the United States. Volvo Car USA stopped importing it in 2025, which reporting attributed to the tariffs on Chinese-built cars. |
| Polestar 2 | Polestar | Luqiao, Zhejiang | 2021 onwards; final US model year not verified | The Polestar 2 was built in China and imported. Polestar's US-built model is the Polestar 3, assembled at Volvo's plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina; Volvo said in March 2026 it would consolidate Polestar 3 production there rather than also building it in Chengdu. Polestar said on 25 June 2026 it will stop selling new vehicles in the United States from model year 2027. |
Buick Envision · Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid · Lincoln Nautilus · Polestar Polestar 2 · Volvo EX30 · Volvo S60 Inscription (S60L) · Volvo S90
Models recorded in the United States
| Model | Body | Status | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Eletre | SUV | Sold | 600 km WLTP |
| Lotus Emeya | Saloon | Sold | 610 km WLTP |
| Lotus Emira | Coupé | Sold | not published |
| Polestar Polestar 2 | Hatchback | Withdrawn | 658 km WLTP |
| Polestar Polestar 3 | SUV | Sold | 647 km WLTP |
| Polestar Polestar 4 | Crossover | Sold | 619 km WLTP |
| Volvo Cars EX30 | SUV | Withdrawn | 344 km WLTP |
| Volvo Cars EX90 | SUV | Sold | 460 km WLTP |
| Volvo Cars S90 | Saloon | Withdrawn | 102 km CLTC |
| Volvo Cars XC40 / EX40 | SUV | Sold | 569 km WLTP |
| Volvo Cars XC60 | SUV | Sold | 77 km WLTP |
Chinese cars in the United States: questions people ask
- Can you buy a BYD in the US?
- Not a BYD car. BYD does not retail passenger cars in the United States, and no other Chinese-brand passenger car is sold there either. BYD's US presence is the battery-electric bus operation in Lancaster, California, which now trades as RIDE.
- Why are there no Chinese cars in the US?
- Two federal measures. Since 27 September 2024 the Section 301 additional duty on electric vehicles from China has been 100 percent, and since 3 April 2025 a Section 232 duty of 25 percent has applied to imported passenger vehicles and light trucks from anywhere. Separately, 15 CFR 791.304 bars a connected-vehicle manufacturer owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of China from selling completed connected vehicles in the United States, and 15 CFR 791.308 applies that prohibition from model year 2027.
- Is Volvo allowed in the US if Geely owns it?
- Yes, under an authorization. Volvo Cars announced on 26 May 2026 that it had received a specific authorization from the Commerce Department's Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services under the connected-vehicles rule, allowing it to continue importing and selling connected vehicles. The rule provides for such authorizations at 15 CFR 791.306 and 791.307. Polestar, which shares the same controlling owner, said on 25 June 2026 that it was not granted one.
- Are any cars sold in the US made in China?
- Yes, wearing Western badges. The Buick Envision is built only in China by SAIC-GM and has been sold in the United States since the 2016 model year, and Lincoln has built the Nautilus in China since 2024. Volvo's China-built S90 was dropped from the US line-up in 2025.
- Will Chinese cars come to the US?
- The documents do not say. What they set are dates: the covered-software and manufacturer prohibitions in 15 CFR part 791 subpart D apply from model year 2027 and the hardware prohibition from model year 2030, and the Section 301 rate on Chinese electric vehicles has been 100 percent since 27 September 2024. A bill that would go further, S. 4429, was ordered reported by the Senate Commerce Committee on 22 July 2026 and has not passed either chamber.
- Can I import a Chinese car myself?
- Two separate hurdles apply. Under 49 CFR 591.5(i)(1) a vehicle that is 25 or more years old can be declared on that basis, and a newer non-conforming vehicle can normally only come in under 49 CFR 591.5(f) through a NHTSA-Registered Importer for a model NHTSA has ruled eligible. Those rules concern safety standards; the tariffs and the connected-vehicle prohibitions in 15 CFR part 791 subpart D apply on their own terms.
What changed
The only dated surface on this page. It records status changes, not news.
-
Ford said it plans to move production of some Lincoln models from China to the United States beginning in 2030. Lincoln has built the Nautilus in China since 2024.
-
Lotus Americas was reported as saying US tariffs had halted plans to sell the China-built Eletre and Emeya, leaving the UK-built Emira as the brand's US offering.
-
The Senate Commerce Committee ordered S. 4429 reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The bill has not passed either chamber.
-
Polestar said the Commerce Department had not granted it an authorization under the connected-vehicles rule and that it will stop selling new vehicles in the United States from model year 2027, while continuing to sell remaining Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 stock and to provide service. It said it would not appeal.
-
Volvo Cars announced it had received a specific authorization under the connected-vehicles rule from the Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services.
-
S. 4429, the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
-
General Motors said it will move production of the Buick Envision from China to the United States.
-
The Section 301 rate rose to 25 percent on non-EV lithium-ion batteries, natural graphite and permanent magnets from China.
Office of the United States Trade Representative, via GovInfo
-
The Section 232 tariff was extended to listed automobile parts on or before this date under the same proclamation.
-
A 25 percent Section 232 tariff on imported passenger vehicles and light trucks took effect under Proclamation 10908 of 26 March 2025, published at 90 FR 14705.
-
Volvo Car USA stopped importing the China-built S90, ending its US run. Reporting placed the withdrawal in April 2025; cnautohr did not verify an exact day or a Volvo statement.
-
The connected-vehicles final rule came into effect.
-
The Bureau of Industry and Security published its final rule on connected vehicles at 90 FR 5360, codified at 15 CFR part 791 subpart D.
-
The Section 301 rate on semiconductors from China rose to 50 percent.
Office of the United States Trade Representative, via GovInfo
-
The Section 301 additional duty on electric vehicles from China rose to 100 percent, with 25 percent on lithium-ion EV batteries, battery parts, other critical minerals, steel and aluminium products and ship-to-shore cranes, for goods entered on or after this date.
Office of the United States Trade Representative, via GovInfo
-
USTR published its notice of modification following the Section 301 four-year review, at 89 FR 76581.
Office of the United States Trade Representative, via GovInfo
Related
Sources for United States
- Office of the United States Trade Representative, via GovInfo, Notice of Modification: China's Acts, Policies and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property and Innovation (89 FR 76581). Read . Section 301 rates, effective dates and the EV HTSUS subheadings.
- Bureau of Industry and Security, US Department of Commerce, Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain: Connected Vehicles (90 FR 5360). Read . Docket 250107-0005, RIN 0694-AJ56. Publication date shown as 16 January 2025; effective 17 March 2025.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, National Archives, 15 CFR part 791 subpart D — ICTS Supply Chain: Connected Vehicles. Read . Text as in force on the eCFR currency date of 2 September 2026. Source note: 90 FR 5414, 16 January 2025.
- The White House, via GovInfo, Proclamation 10908 — Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States (90 FR 14705). Read .
- 119th Congress, via GovInfo, S. 4429 — Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, as introduced. Read .
- US Government Publishing Office, GovInfo bulk data, Bill status file for S. 4429 (119th Congress). Read . Actions, sponsor, cosponsors and latest action.
- Volvo Car AB, via PR Newswire, Volvo Cars receives a specific authorization in the United States under the ICTS Connected Vehicles Rule. Read .
- Reuters, US cranks up pressure on China EVs with Polestar ban. Read .
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, National Archives, 49 CFR 591.5 — Declarations required for importation. Read .
- RIDE (BYD Coach & Bus LLC), Our Story. Read .
- Reuters, GM to move production of Buick SUV from China to US. Read . Headline and date read from search results; the article body was not opened.
- Reuters, Ford to move production of some Lincoln models from China to US. Read . Headline and date read from search results; the article body was not opened.
- Motor1, Dead in the US: Volvo S90. Read . Headline read from search results; supports the withdrawal of the China-built S90 from the US line-up in 2025.
- MotorTrend, What's Going On With Lotus in the U.S.? Blame Tariffs, Mostly. Read . Dated 29 July 2026. Headline and summary read from search results; the site blocked a direct fetch.
- CFMOTO USA, About CFMOTO. Read . Company statement that CFMOTO USA has been at its current facility since 2007.
- Wikipedia, Buick Envision. Read . Finding aid, used only for the fact that the Envision is manufactured exclusively in China by SAIC-GM for the Chinese and North American markets.