US DOE Lab Probes Chinese Lidar for Security Risks
Original: US government lab is probing Chinese lidar for security vulnerabilities
Why This Matters
Chinese lidar dominates the AV supply chain; security findings could reshape procurement and legislation across the industry.
The Idaho National Laboratory, a US Department of Energy facility, is investigating whether Chinese lidar sensors pose national security risks if widely deployed on vehicles in the US. The review is funded by one or more companies in the EV and autonomous vehicle industries, per sources.
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a US Department of Energy facility, is conducting a security review of Chinese-made lidar sensors, TechCrunch has learned from two anonymous sources familiar with the effort. The review is funded by one or more companies in the electric and autonomous vehicle industries, though the specific funders remain unidentified. INL declined to comment, with a spokesperson stating the project is 'not at liberty to discuss with reporters.' Major automakers and AV companies including Rivian, GM, Ford, Lucid Motors, and Uber said they were unaware of the review. China's top lidar makers, Hesai and RoboSense, did not respond to requests for comment. The review comes as US lawmakers pursue multiple bills to ban Chinese lidar on American roads. Senator Tammy Baldwin cited fears of military and industrial espionage, while Congressman John Moolenaar warned of potential 'back doors' transmitting data to Chinese interests. Innoviz CEO Omer Keilaf noted layered risks: supply chain dependence and the Chinese government's designation of lidar as a strategic technology. Lidar — Light Detection and Ranging — uses laser pulses to map surroundings and is critical to autonomous vehicle development.