A quiet US review is examining technology that could reshape the autonomous vehicle supply chain and national security.
Idaho National Laboratory, part of the U.S. Department of Energy system, is conducting a security assessment of Chinese lidar sensors. Specialists are examining whether such devices could pose cyber threats if deployed on a large scale in vehicles across the United States.
Two sources familiar with the research said the work is funded by one or more companies involved in electric vehicle manufacturing or autonomous transportation. Their names have not been disclosed. Idaho National Laboratory declined to comment on the review, while Hesai and RoboSense did not respond to requests for comment.
Lidar technology works by using laser pulses to measure the distance to objects and create a detailed map of the space around a vehicle. Such sensors are an important part of autonomous driving systems, but the United States is increasingly discussing the risks of using Chinese components in transportation infrastructure.
U.S. Examines Chinese Lidars for Espionage Risks
Senator Tammy Baldwin, who along with Senator Ted Budd supports the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act, pointed to the risks of potential military and industrial espionage through LiDAR technology.
As infrastructure becomes increasingly complex, the threat that Chinese LiDAR technology poses to American communities and our national security cannot be left unchecked. We must do more to protect Americans, starting by ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not spent on technologies that could be used to surveil us.
– Tammy Baldwin
Omer Keilaf, CEO and co-founder of Israel’s Innoviz, believes automakers may face risks due to their dependence on Chinese supply chains. Among the potential threats, he cited the possible simultaneous shutdown of a large number of sensors, as well as the transmission of data collected by lidar through a cellular module.
At the same time, there is no evidence that China can remotely and synchronously disable a significant number of lidars installed on robotaxis. However, in early 2024, Hesai customers’ vehicles became inoperable for a day due to an error in processing the extra day of a leap year.
Chinese Lidar Sensors Are Becoming Cheaper, but Raising More Questions
Over the past ten years, the price of lidar systems has fallen substantially. While individual devices once cost as much as $75,000, some models are now available for just a few hundred dollars.
Hesai and RoboSense have expanded production and strengthened their market positions. U.S. manufacturers find it more difficult to compete with Chinese companies because of their large production scale and lower costs.
Regulation of Chinese LiDAR in the United States
Chinese lidars are not currently banned from use in civilian vehicles in the United States. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Defense has added Hesai and RoboSense to its 1260H list due to the companies’ alleged ties to China’s People’s Liberation Army.
In 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce introduced a rule restricting the use of Chinese communications equipment in U.S. passenger vehicles. Lidars and other sensors for autonomous driving were not included in those restrictions.
The assessment being conducted by Idaho National Laboratory could become an important factor in further discussions about the security of Chinese lidar systems and the possibility of their widespread use in U.S. transportation.
