DOJ Urged to Probe Chinese Self-Driving Truck Firm for Export Violations
DOJ should investigate Chinese autonomous-trucking company TuSimple for violating U.S. export controls, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said May 30.
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Hawley’s letter to DOJ comes more than a year after the Commerce Department reportedly began investigating whether the company breached controls by trying to send a shipment of export-controlled Nvidia advanced semiconductors to China (see 2401310007). Hawley also said TuSimple has reportedly shared proprietary data, source code and autonomous driving technologies with Chinese state-linked entities in “blatant disregard of a 2022 national security agreement” with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.
The reports showed that TuSimple personnel in China asked for a “shipment of sensitive Nvidia AI chips,” Hawley said, adding that “to date, TuSimple has not faced serious consequences for sharing American intellectual property with China.”
Hawley asked DOJ to look into whether TuSimple has provided “protected information” to companies with Chinese ties, including Hydron, Foton and BAIC Group. He also wanted to know whether DOJ is taking steps to ensure that Bot Auto -- a Texas-based self-driving truck company staffed with former TuSimple employees -- doesn’t also violate export controls. Lastly, he asked for information about the activities that were covered under TuSimple’s national security agreement with CFIUS and any activities by TuSimple that violated it.
“I urge the Department to act swiftly and without hesitation,” he said. “Any individual or entity found to have violated our laws must be held fully accountable.”
A DOJ spokesperson said the agency had received the letter but declined to say whether it's investigating TuSimple.