SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -- On Monday, China-based Hesai Group filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government in response to being added to a list of companies purportedly collaborating with Beijing's military.


Hesai, known for its lidar light sensors used in self-driving cars and driver-assistance systems to create three-dimensional road maps, was included on the list by the U.S. Department of Defense in January, along with over a dozen other companies.


While inclusion on the list does not result in immediate bans, it serves as a warning to U.S. entities about the potential risks of doing business with these companies.


In the lawsuit, Hesai stated, "No Chinese governmental or military entity has sought to exert influence or control over the Hesai Group's management, strategy, or research and development operations," noting that it is majority-owned by shareholders outside China.


Hesai claimed that being added to the 1260H list caused "serious reputational injury, a significant drop in stock price, and lost business opportunities," and requested a U.S. district court to order its removal from the list.


The Department of Defense declined to comment on the litigation.


Hesai, which has been listed in New York since early last year, asserted that the department provided "no warning, no explanation, and no opportunity to defend itself prior to the listing."


The company also stated that the government had not substantively responded to its requests for removal or attempts to resolve the issue out of court, emphasizing that its products are designed and manufactured solely for commercial and civilian purposes.


Some U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns regarding the use of autonomous vehicle technologies such as lidar, radar, and semiconductors produced by Chinese firms, citing potential risks of data on Americans being collected and shared with China.


U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told Reuters last year that his agency had national security concerns about these technologies and stressed the importance of understanding "the true ownership of the different enterprises that are supplying different elements of our transportation systems."