NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling for a federal probe into whether a Chinese state-owned company's proposal to design New York City subway cars could pose a security threat.

"We should not give the stamp of approval for the MTA to operate these Chinese-made, owned rail cars before it's thoroughly checked out that security can't be breached and the Chinese, should they choose to, not interfere," he said at a news conference Sunday night.

The New York democrat says he asked the Commerce Department to conduct a review after CRRC, one of the world's largest train makers, won a design contest for new subway cars.

Sen. Schumer Full News Conference

They would include modern train control technology.

The company has not won a contract in New York, but says it would welcome an inquiry.