US government lab is probing Chinese lidar for security vulnerabilities
The U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory is investigating potential security risks associated with Chinese-made lidar sensors used in autonomous vehicles. The study is reportedly funded by private companies in the automotive sector amid growing legislative pressure to restrict Chinese technology in U.S. infrastructure.
Why it matters
This investigation highlights the increasing intersection of national security, supply chain integrity, and the rapid development of autonomous vehicle technology.
A Department of Energy lab is investigating whether Chinese lidar sensors might pose a security risk if they become widely used on vehicles in the United States, TechCrunch has learned.
The review is being performed by the Idaho National Laboratory, according to two people familiar with the effort, who were granted anonymity to discuss it. The lab has said the research is being funded by a company — or a group of companies — in the electric and autonomous vehicle industries, the sources told TechCrunch.
It’s not immediately clear which companies are supporting the review. Representatives for Rivian, General Motors, Ford, Kodiak, Lucid Motors, Nuro, and Uber – companies that are reported to be considering Chinese lidar – told TechCrunch they weren’t aware of the review. Nvidia, Zoox, and Aurora didn’t respond to questions about whether they are involved.
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