The U.S. Senate failed to advance the bipartisan Connected Vehicle Security Act after Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky objected to its potential impact on Mercedes-Benz, effectively delaying any vote until after November’s midterm elections. Co-authored by Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, the bill would permanently bar the import, manufacture and sale of internet-connected vehicles, software and hardware linked to China, Russia, Iran or North Korea. Companies with Chinese ownership above 15% would be excluded; Mercedes-Benz has roughly 19.67% combined Chinese ownership through BAIC and Geely founder Li Shufu. Supporters plan to revive the measure after the elections, arguing it would strengthen national-security protections established by the Biden administration in early 2025 and shield U.S. automakers from subsidized Chinese competition.