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U.S. Senator Calls for Investigation into TuSimple Autonomous Trucking Company Over Allegations of Technology Leaks to China Threatening National Security

U.S. Senator Calls for Investigation into TuSimple Autonomous Trucking Company Over Allegations of Technology Leaks to China Threatening National Security

On Thursday (29th), U.S. Republican Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri formally wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi, requesting the Justice Department to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the autonomous trucking company TuSimple (TSP-US), which is partly owned by China.

Hawley pointed out that the company is suspected of sharing proprietary data and sensitive technology with entities related to the Chinese government, which could pose a significant threat to U.S. national security. He cited media reports accusing TuSimple of “systematically sharing proprietary data, source code, and autonomous driving technology with Chinese government-related entities,” openly disregarding the national security agreement signed in 2022 with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Despite CFIUS’s agreement clearly restricting data sharing, TuSimple continues to share its core technology with China without facing severe penalties. Hawley emphasized that if the reports are true, TuSimple’s actions not only violate U.S. export laws but also betray national trust, constituting a direct threat to America’s technological leadership.

He called on the Justice Department to publicly disclose the investigation results to allow the American public to understand how the company has become a conduit for sensitive technology transfers to China. The letter requests a thorough review by the Justice Department of whether TuSimple has provided protected information to Chinese entities and to clarify the specific scope covered by the national security agreement reached with CFIUS two years ago. Additionally, Hawley inquired what actions have been taken by the Justice Department regarding Bot Auto, a Texas autonomous driving company established by former TuSimple employees, to ensure that the company does not engage in similar technology leak activities.

As the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Hawley has taken a strong stance against China, particularly regarding U.S. companies' technology sharing with China, and has become one of the most outspoken senators in Congress.

Founded in 2015, TuSimple is headquartered in San Diego, California, and has research and development centers in both China and the U.S. In 2017, the company obtained a self-driving license in California and completed cross-state testing from California to Arizona. In July 2020, TuSimple signed a strategic partnership agreement with U.S. truck manufacturer NAV (NAV-US) to jointly develop Level 4 autonomous trucks. In April 2021, the company successfully went public on NASDAQ, becoming the first publicly traded company in the autonomous driving sector.