Chinese-Made Cars Sold in the US (2026): The Full List, and What Changes in 2027
No Chinese brand sells cars in the US, but a handful of China-built or Chinese-owned models are still in showrooms. Here is every one, what it pays in tariffs, and which ones disappear when the Connected Vehicle Rule takes effect for model year 2027.
No Chinese brand sells cars in the United States. But “Chinese-made” and “Chinese-owned” are different things, and a few models in US showrooms are one or both. This is the complete list as of October 2026. We update it when a model is added, moved, or pulled.
| Model | Owner | Built in | Powertrain | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Envision | GM | China | Gas | On sale |
| Lincoln Nautilus | Ford | China | Gas / hybrid | On sale |
| Polestar 3 | Polestar (Geely) | South Carolina | EV | Inventory only |
| Polestar 4 | Polestar (Geely) | South Korea | EV | Inventory only |
| Volvo lineup | Volvo (Geely) | Europe, South Carolina | All | On sale, authorized |
| Lotus Eletre / Emeya | Lotus (Geely) | China | EV | Not sold for 2026 |
The list, model by model
Buick Envision
- Built: China, by GM
- Status: On sale
- What to know: The first mainstream China-built car sold in the US, and still the most common. It is sold and serviced by Buick dealers like any other GM model. GM says Envision production moves to its Fairfax, Kansas plant starting in 2028.
Lincoln Nautilus
- Built: China (Hangzhou), through Ford’s joint venture with Changan
- Status: On sale
- What to know: It pays a 52.5% import duty, which Ford confirmed in August 2026. Ford plans to move Nautilus production to US plants starting in 2030. Its software is developed in the US and installed in China. Ford first applied for authorization under the 2027 rule, then said it no longer needs it.
Polestar 3 and Polestar 4
- Built: Polestar 3 in South Carolina; US-market Polestar 4 at Renault Korea’s Busan plant
- Status: Remaining model-year 2026 inventory only. No 2027 models.
- What to know: Commerce denied Polestar authorization in June 2026 because it is majority-owned by China’s Geely and reportedly runs connected services on Geely servers in China. Neither the US factory nor the Korean one helped. Polestar says warranties, service, parts, and software updates continue for existing owners. New inventory has been discounted by up to $25,000. The older Polestar 2 left the US configurator earlier because of tariffs.
Volvo
- Built: Europe, plus the EX90 in South Carolina
- Status: On sale; authorized under the 2027 rule in May 2026
- What to know: Same parent company as Polestar, opposite outcome. Volvo reportedly runs its connected services on European infrastructure. Volvo used to import some models, such as the EX30, from China but stopped after the 100% EV tariff.
Lotus Eletre and Emeya
- Built: China
- Status: No 2026 Eletre for the US; the Emeya was never offered here
- What to know: Lotus sold only a small batch of 2025 Eletre Carbon models in the US. Its CEO told MotorTrend the future of both China-built models here is “TBD.” The UK-built Emira continues.
Illustration (AI-generated). Not a specific model.
Why the list is so short
Import duties depend on the powertrain, and the gap is large:
| China-built passenger car | Base | Section 301 | Section 232 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV or plug-in hybrid | 2.5% | 100% | 25% | 127.5% |
| Gas or conventional hybrid | 2.5% | 25% | 25% | 52.5% |
Automakers can still justify shipping a few gas and hybrid SUVs from China at 52.5%. Nobody ships a China-built EV here at 127.5%. Ford’s CEO named tariffs as the main reason for moving the Nautilus.
The 2027 rule in one paragraph
Starting with model year 2027, the Commerce Department’s Connected Vehicle Rule bans connected cars sold by manufacturers owned or controlled by China (or Russia), and cars running connectivity or self-driving software from Chinese-linked suppliers. Hardware limits follow in model year 2030. Cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and satellite links all count as “connected,” so the rule covers nearly every new car. What it tests is who controls the software and data, not where the car is assembled. That is why Polestar and Volvo, with the same owner, got opposite answers.
Chinese parts in “American” cars
Assembly location does not tell the whole story. The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, built in Kansas and the cheapest new EV in the US at $28,995, runs on LFP battery packs from China’s CATL for about two years, until GM’s Tennessee LFP plant starts commercial production. That is allowed: the rule covers software and, from 2030, connectivity hardware, not battery cells.
Illustration (AI-generated). Connectivity and navigation software are what the 2027 rule regulates.
Thinking of buying one? Match the risk to the car
| Situation | Risk | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buick Envision, Lincoln Nautilus | Low | Large US dealer networks; production moving to the US |
| Volvo | Low | Authorized; built in Europe and the US |
| Discounted new Polestar 3 or 4 | Medium to high | Warranty honored, but the brand is leaving. Resale is the risk. |
| Used Polestar 2 | Medium to high | Already about 53% below its original price; shrinking retailer network |
| Any “Chinese EV” listed for sale in the US | Avoid | Not certified for US roads; cannot be registered |
For the Polestar cases, read what the ban means for resale and support. For why BYD is not on this list at all, see can you buy a BYD in the US.
References
- Consumer Reports, “Chinese-Made Cars Are Already Here,” updated Aug. 18, 2026. Envision, Nautilus, Volvo history. https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/automotive-industry/chinese-made-cars-in-us-market-a3786571662/
- Bureau of Industry and Security, Connected Vehicles rule. https://www.bis.gov/connected-vehicles
- Reuters, US denies Polestar authorization from model year 2027, June 25, 2026. https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-denies-polestar-authorization-sell-vehicles-latest-strike-against-china-made-2026-06-25/
- Reuters, Ford to move some Lincoln production from China to the US, Aug. 12, 2026. https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/automaker-ford-move-production-some-lincoln-models-china-us-2026-08-12/
- Chosun Biz, US-bound Polestar 4 built in Busan, June 26, 2026. https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-industry/2026/06/26/2ZO6O4MJZNC25IZLUETLMYO4IY/
- MotorTrend, Lotus US sales and tariffs. https://www.motortrend.com/news/whats-going-on-with-lotus-us-sales-tariffs
- Polestar US, US operations FAQ. https://www.polestar.com/us/support/faq/us-operations/
- Reuters, GM to import CATL batteries for the Chevrolet Bolt. https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gm-import-ev-batteries-chinas-catl-source-says-2025-08-07/
List checked October 2026. Authorizations under the 2027 rule are decided model by model.
FAQ
Are any Chinese cars sold in the US?
No Chinese brand sells cars in the US as of October 2026. A few China-built models from American brands are on sale, mainly the Buick Envision and Lincoln Nautilus, and Chinese-owned Polestar is selling off its remaining model-year 2026 inventory. Volvo, also owned by China's Geely, is authorized to keep selling cars built in Europe and the US.
Is the Buick Envision made in China?
Yes. The Buick Envision is built in China and is one of the few China-built cars sold in the US. GM has said it will move Envision production to its Fairfax plant in Kansas starting in 2028.
Why can't Polestar sell cars in the US after 2026?
In June 2026 the Commerce Department denied Polestar authorization under the Connected Vehicle Rule, which bars connected cars from China-controlled manufacturers starting with model year 2027. Polestar is majority-owned by China's Geely. The denial applied even to the Polestar 4 built in South Korea and the Polestar 3 built in South Carolina.