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Baidu Robotaxis Stop on Wuhan Roads After Suspected System Malfunction

Police cite a suspected system fault, sharpening scrutiny of driverless taxi safety.

Overview

  • Apollo Go driverless cabs that halted Tuesday evening in Wuhan left passengers stuck in traffic, according to local police.
  • Authorities said they fielded many calls about vehicles that would not restart after stopping, and they reported preliminary signs of a system malfunction.
  • Videos posted by riders show people trapped inside the cars trying to reach customer service on in‑car tablets, with one saying she waited more than 30 minutes.
  • Baidu did not immediately respond to media questions, and officials have not given a vehicle count as the inquiry continues.
  • Social posts claimed over 100 cars were affected, which officials have not confirmed, in a setback for a service that logged 3.4 million driverless trips in late 2025 and runs more than 500 vehicles in Wuhan.