Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) warned that if BYD Co. Ltd. CEO Wang Chuanfu joins Chinese President Xi Jinping’s delegation to the White House next week, it could signal discussions on allowing Chinese automakers greater access to the U.S. market.

Slotkin described such an outcome as “a terrible outcome” for Michigan’s auto industry, which supports 1.2 million jobs. She cautioned that Chinese automakers, which she said are propped up by the Chinese government, would undercut U.S. manufacturers and suppliers if allowed into the country.

Political Reaction

In a post on X, Slotkin urged observers to “watch what the President does, not what he says.” She suggested that Wang’s presence in the delegation implies deals are afoot to allow Chinese cars to be imported or for Chinese companies to set up shop in the U.S.

President Donald Trump previously told Fox News he would be open to Chinese automakers building cars in the U.S. with American workers. However, he opposed Chinese-built vehicles being shipped into the U.S. from Mexico.

Delegation Details

Bloomberg reported that Chinese officials are considering BYD founder Wang Chuanfu for Xi’s business delegation ahead of the leaders’ Sept. 24 summit in Washington. The list is not final.

The Pentagon added BYD to its expanded “1260H list” in June, identifying companies it believes have ties to China’s military or defense-industrial sector. BYD has denied these allegations.

Trade Context

The U.S. has imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, effectively shutting Chinese automakers out of the American market entirely.

Xi’s business delegation would mark his largest since 2015. Trump has previously brought large U.S. business delegations to China, including Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk.

A new DIGITIMES Intelligence report identifies BYD as a key case study in semiconductor localization, leveraging over two decades of in-house development to integrate advanced chips into its electric vehicle lineup.

The analysis highlights how U.S. and allied export controls since 2022 have accelerated Beijing's push for domestic semiconductor self-reliance. While restrictions aim to limit access to advanced technologies, a March 2026 Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) analysis found they have strengthened coordinated efforts across government and industry to localize design and manufacturing.

Vertical Integration Model

Unlike automakers recently accelerating semiconductor strategies due to supply-chain pressure, BYD began building in-house capabilities more than 20 years ago. The company initially focused on power-control semiconductors essential for electric vehicles.

This progression reflects an integrated device manufacturer (IDM) model spanning chip design, wafer fabrication, and mass-production deployment. The strategy is supported by multiple in-house fabs and a dedicated semiconductor engineering organization.

What the Numbers Show

The data reveals a distinct divergence between BYD and peers entering custom silicon primarily as a reactive measure. BYD's two-decade investment timeline allows it to operate from a position of established vertical integration rather than emergent dependency. This structural advantage suggests that its semiconductor capabilities are now a core competitive differentiator rather than merely a supply-chain mitigation tactic.

Expansion Into Physical AI

The strategic value of this investment extends beyond automotive applications. DIGITIMES senior analyst Jessie Lin notes that intelligent vehicles and humanoid robots share foundational technologies, including AI processors, sensors, motors, batteries, and control systems.

China's push into embodied and physical AI is gaining momentum. At the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, more than 300 companies showcased over 2,000 robotics exhibits. Humanoid robots were increasingly demonstrated in manufacturing, logistics, and household applications rather than solely as prototypes.

This overlap indicates that capabilities in batteries, motors, sensors, and AI are becoming transferable between the EV and robotics industries. BYD's accumulated expertise in smart-driving silicon and algorithms could provide a foundation for expansion into these emerging physical AI applications.