The United States government has granted Volvo permission to continue importing and selling its connected vehicles in America under its new federal supply-chain security rules, the company announced Tuesday. The move is significant given Volvo’s Chinese ownership.The automaker said it received a “specific authorization” from the Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services as part of the US Commerce Department’s “Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain: Connected Vehicles” regulation.The rule requires automakers to undergo federal review of their connected-car software, data security, and foreign supply chains, particularly those linked to China. Volvo Cars is majority owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which bought the company from Ford in 2010. Volvo said it received approval after discussions with US officials regarding the company’s governance, technology, and data security measures. Bloomberg reported the authorization allows Volvo to avoid restrictions tied to a crackdown on Chinese vehicle technology. In other words, the approval removes a potential hurdle Volvo was facing in its goal of expanding in the United States.Volvo EX60 interior.’ expand='Volvo operates a assembly plant in Charleston, South Carolina, where it says it has invested more than $1.3 billion and created more than 2,000 jobs. Last year, the automaker announced plans to add two more vehicles to production there before 2030.The company has increasingly found itself at the intersection of global automotive politics and national-security concerns because of its Geely ownership. Earlier this year, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson suggested the company could even consider building Geely-developed EVs in South Carolina if regulations allowed it. Volvo Car USA is headquartered in New Jersey and currently operates 281 dealerships across 48 states, supporting roughly 11,500 jobs nationwide.