US Lab Probes Chinese Lidar for Security Risks Amid Automaker Interest

As autonomous vehicle manufacturers explore cheaper sensor components, a U.S. Department of Energy federal laboratory—the Idaho National Laboratory—is investigating Chinese-made lidar technology for security risks. Financial backing for the study comes from one or multiple enterprises operating within the autonomous and electric vehicle sectors, according to TechCrunch. The ongoing probe evaluates whether optical sensors from suppliers like Hesai and RoboSense introduce national security and supply chain risks to American automotive infrastructure.

The investigation unfolds against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tension and legislative pressure. Lawmakers are crafting multiple bills aimed at banning the use of Chinese lidar sensors on American roads. Operating as a sensor system utilizing laser pulses to gauge distances to nearby items, lidar is officially known as light detection and ranging. Because it delivers a high-definition view of an autonomous car’s immediate environment, it has long served as a favored instrument for developers of self-driving vehicles.

The Vector Analysis: Exploitation Surfaces in Optical Hardware

Omer Keilaf, CEO and co-founder of Israeli lidar company Innoviz, highlighted two major cybersecurity risks that Chinese lidar might present. First, threat actors could theoretically disable sensors en masse using lasers, disrupting vehicles in motion and bricking ones that aren’t. Next, operators can compress the rich spatial details gathered by lidar units regarding their surroundings and send that information out through a cellular modem.

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“As a person that spent seven years in the [Israeli] intelligence force, I can assure you, it’s not very difficult to extract that information,” Keilaf noted regarding the feasibility of harvesting raw spatial intelligence.

Legislative Retaliation and the Push for Domestic Supply Chains

Washington is moving from passive observation to active legislative restriction. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is spearheading the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act alongside Senator Ted Budd (R-NC). The legislation aims to prevent federal tax dollars from being used to purchase technologies that could be used to spy on us.

“As infrastructure becomes more sophisticated, the threat Chinese LiDAR technology poses to American communities and our national security cannot be allowed to go unchecked,” Senator Baldwin stated. “We need to be doing more to protect Americans and that starts with ensuring taxpayer dollars aren’t being used to purchase technologies that could be used to spy on us.”

Concurrently, Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI), who is co-sponsoring a different bill aimed at banning the use of Chinese lidar, raised concerns that “back doors” could “transmit information back to these Chinese Communist interests.” China’s government has deemed lidar to be a strategically important technology. Keilaf noted that if an OEM builds its entire autonomous driving stack based on a Chinese supply chain, that is a huge risk down the road.

Industry Silence and the Path Forward for Automotive Security

Despite the high stakes, corporate response to the Idaho National Laboratory review remains muted. Major automotive players reported to be considering Chinese lidar—including Rivian, General Motors, Ford, Kodiak, Lucid Motors, Nuro, and Uber—told TechCrunch they weren’t aware of the review. Industry heavyweights such as Nvidia, Zoox, and Aurora didn’t respond to questions about whether they are involved, while the Idaho National Laboratory declined to comment on the review. China’s leading lidar suppliers, Hesai and RoboSense, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Photo: techcrunch.com

Sources familiar with the matter explain that the assessment centers primarily on cybersecurity threats and could potentially certify Chinese lidar as safe in this domain.