The administration of US President Joe Biden has proposed banning the sale or import of so-called "connected vehicles" equipped with hardware or software employing Chinese or Russian technologies.

The US Commerce Department on Monday said the proposed rules are meant to protect US national security.

The administration has warned that cars connected to the Internet are vulnerable to hacking. It said malicious access to the systems could allow adversaries to collect highly sensitive data and remotely manipulate cars on American roads.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said, "it doesn't take much imagination to understand how a foreign adversary with access to this information could pose a serious risk" to the country's national security.

She said her department is taking "targeted, proactive steps" to keep Chinese and Russian-manufactured technologies off American roads.

Under the proposal, the prohibitions on software will take effect with the 2027 model year, and the hardware ban starting in the 2030 model year.