Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizen MissBook for the clue delivery! CTOnews.com, Aug. 23-former Apple engineer Zhang Xiaolang (Xiaolang Zhang) pleaded guilty to a criminal charge in federal court in San Jose, California on Monday. Earlier, he was accused of stealing Apple's self-driving trade secrets in front of a job-hopping Xiaopeng car. Xiaopeng Motor responded to this matter: it has been more than four years since the case, Xiaopeng Motor does not know the specific circumstances of the case, nor has it been involved in the follow-up investigation of the case by US judicial authorities, and there is no dispute between us and Apple. It has nothing to do with the case.

The following is Xiaopeng's response:

We learned from the media today the latest developments in the case of Zhang Xiaolang, a former Apple employee, suspected of stealing Apple's trade secrets. It has been more than four years since the case, Xiaopeng Motor does not know the specific circumstances of the case, nor has it been involved in the follow-up investigation of the case by US judicial authorities. There is no dispute between us and Apple, nor does it have anything to do with the case.

Xiaopeng Motor strictly abides by relevant laws and attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights. Xiaopeng Automobile is the leading enterprise of self-driving in China, and will continue to adhere to the route of self-research. Thank you for your understanding and support of the facts! (the picture shows Xiaopeng's statement on the case in 2018)

It was previously reported that Zhang Xiaolang was arrested while preparing to board a flight to China in July 2018. Zhang Xiaolang originally developed software and hardware for Apple's autopilot program, designing circuit boards and analyzing sensor data, according to the indictment. In April 2018, Zhang Xiaolang's family returned to China on paternity leave. After returning to the United States, he expressed his intention to resign and went to China to work for a company called Xiaopeng Automobile Technology Co., Ltd.

CTOnews.com learned that court documents showed that Zhang Xiaolang reached a plea agreement with the US government in a state of confidentiality. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250000 after pleading guilty to the felony of stealing trade secrets. Sentencing in this case is scheduled for November.

"Zhang Xiaolang, a former Apple engineer, pleaded guilty to stealing trade secret information before job-hopping Xiaopeng car."

Welcome to subscribe "Shulou Technology Information " to get latest news, interesting things and hot topics in the IT industry, and controls the hottest and latest Internet news, technology news and IT industry trends.