Senate Republican says Chinese vehicle bill will not ban Mercedes-Benz in US

A bill sponsor in the Senate said talks are ongoing to ensure Mercedes-Benz won’t be banned under a proposed US curb on Chinese vehicle sales. Republican Bernie Moreno, sponsor of the measure, told Reuters on Sept. 29 that the goal is to avoid excluding the German automaker, which has nearly 20% passive ownership from Chinese entities. The bill, approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in July, would prohibit companies with more than 15% ownership by Chinese entities from selling vehicles in the US. Moreno also discussed possible treatment for Volvo, majority owned by China’s Geely, and cautioned other Geely-linked brands like Aston Martin and Lotus could be affected. Negotiations include Senator Rand Paul, whose opposition remains a hurdle.