WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense

Department removed China-based lidar maker Hesai Group

from a list of companies allegedly working with Beijing's

military, according to a letter sent to Congress.

Hesai, whose lidars help self-driving cars and

driver-assistance systems gain a three-dimensional map of the

road, was added to the list by the U.S. Department of Defense in

January along with over a dozen other companies.

Hesai filed suit in May challenging the designation.