A US Senate committee has approved a bill restricting the activities of automakers with significant Chinese shareholders. According to Reuters, the bill could affect Mercedes-Benz, threatening the company's exit from the US market.

According to the bill, the ban applies to automakers in which more than 15% of shares are owned by Chinese entities. At Mercedes-Benz, Chinese investors hold approximately 20% of the company's shares, although this is purely passive ownership, with no involvement in the company's management.

Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, commenting on the initiative, said it was aimed at preventing the destruction of the US industrial base.

According to Reuters, the document provides for a transition period: if the law is adopted in its current form, Mercedes-Benz will have until 2030 to adjust its ownership structure to the new requirements. The company will also be able to apply for a deferment or exemption from the rules.

CNBC sources, however, claim that sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the United States will be banned if the bill is signed into law in its current form. The channel's sources point to several ambiguous terms in the document, leaving room for various interpretations. Senators themselves acknowledge the need for revision, so the final version of the law may change.

The initiative is part of a broader US policy to reduce the auto industry's dependence on China. The country plans to ban the use of Chinese software for automated driving systems by 2027, and Chinese hardware for connected cars, including Bluetooth, cellular, and satellite communication components, by 2030. Against this backdrop, American automakers have already begun to develop their own electronics production.