A Senate committee approved a bill restricting Chinese-made automobiles' access to the US market, the Liberty Times reported. The measure still faces floor procedures.

The rationale rests on connected-vehicle data: the risk that location, video and audio information gathered by a car could be transmitted abroad.

The United States has already imposed rules on Chinese connected-vehicle software and hardware; this bill would broaden the scope and strengthen enforcement tools.

China's auto industry has rapidly expanded exports, led by electric vehicles, gaining share in Europe and emerging markets while the US market remains effectively closed.

Industry figures warn that extending controls down to component supply chains would inevitably raise costs, since batteries and vehicle electronics still depend heavily on China.

The tighter the rules, the fewer models and price points consumers can choose from. Balancing safety, data protection and consumer welfare remains the unresolved task.