Mercedes-Benz faces fresh U.S. pressure: Chinese ownership in focus

Mercedes-Benz has a new problem in Washington. A proposed U.S. measure, the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, would restrict connected-vehicle sales by automakers whose ownership includes stakes tied to countries the U.S. considers foreign adversaries. Mercedes-Benz is in the frame because part of its shareholder structure is linked to China.

The draft bill sets the line at more than 15% ownership tied to foreign adversary countries. Mercedes-Benz lands at 19.67% once you combine Beijing Automotive Group Co. (BAIC)’s 9.98% stake with Zhejiang Geely Holding chairman Li Shufu’s 9.69% stake. The measure has already passed the Senate Commerce Committee, though it still needs a full Senate vote. It gives companies until 2030 to comply and includes the option for waivers. Mercedes-Benz has been pushing for a different standard, either a 25% threshold or an “actual control” test, arguing that those investors are passive and don’t have access to sensitive vehicle data.

The pressure here is real. The U.S. isn’t only a major sales market for Mercedes-Benz, it’s also a manufacturing base, with Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and billions of dollars in investment tied up in its American footprint. China, meanwhile, still matters because of the company’s BAIC partnership, even as that market gets harder to crack. Local brands have gotten tougher, and the fight in EVs and connected cars keeps tightening. Backers of the bill point to national security. Critics, including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, argue it looks tailored to hit Mercedes-Benz. And the broader lesson is pretty clear: ownership, software, data access, and access to markets now carry as much weight as pricing and horsepower.

If you follow the global car business, keep an eye on this one as the bill moves through the U.S. Senate.

Author: Chema Carvajal Sarabia

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