US government lab is probing Chinese lidar for security vulnerabilities
TechCrunch
β’Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:01:54 +0000
π° What Happened
A US Department of Energy lab, the Idaho National Laboratory, is investigating whether Chinese lidar sensors could pose a security risk if they become widely used on vehicles in the United States. The review is being funded by a company or group of companies in the electric and autonomous vehicle industries, according to people familiar with the effort. It is underway alongside mounting pressure to ban Chinese lidar on American roads.
π The Backstory
Lidar, which uses laser pulses to measure distance, is key to giving self-driving cars a high-resolution view of their surroundings. Chinese suppliers such as Hesai and RoboSense are leading global lidar makers and are being considered by major automakers. Lawmakers are drafting multiple bills to restrict Chinese lidar, amid broader moves to limit Chinese technology from critical US infrastructure.
π― Why It Matters
The probe reflects escalating security concerns about Chinese technology embedded in critical US infrastructure, including vehicles. Its results could shape whether Chinese lidar is banned, affecting supply chains for autonomous vehicles. For readers, it illustrates the growing technology-dependence and national-security sensitivities in the auto industry.
A US Department of Energy lab, the Idaho National Laboratory, is investigating whether Chinese lidar sensors could pose a security risk if they become widely used on vehicles in the United States. The review is being funded by a company or group of companies in the electric and autonomous vehicle industries, according to people familiar with the effort. It is underway alongside mounting pressure to ban Chinese lidar on American roads.
Lidar, which uses laser pulses to measure distance, is key to giving self-driving cars a high-resolution view of their surroundings. Chinese suppliers such as Hesai and RoboSense are leading global lidar makers and are being considered by major automakers. Lawmakers are drafting multiple bills to restrict Chinese lidar, amid broader moves to limit Chinese technology from critical US infrastructure.
The probe reflects escalating security concerns about Chinese technology embedded in critical US infrastructure, including vehicles. Its results could shape whether Chinese lidar is banned, affecting supply chains for autonomous vehicles. For readers, it illustrates the growing technology-dependence and national-security sensitivities in the auto industry.