Robotaxi Outage Halts Hundreds of Self-Driving Cars in Wuhan
Robotaxi Outage Halts Hundreds of Self-Driving Cars in Wuhan
A system malfunction halts hundreds of Baidu Apollo Go driverless taxis in Wuhan, leaving passengers stranded and sparking safety debates as investigators probe.
A wave of trouble hit Wuhan’s streets today as Baidu’s Apollo Go driverless taxis ground to a halt. Local authorities said more than 100 self-driving cars stopped in mid-traffic after a suspected system malfunction, forcing drivers to abandon routes and passengers to wait for guidance.\n\nVideos circulating on social media show cars stranded on highways and in intersections, prompting questions about the safety and reliability of autonomous ride-hailing services. Police said there were no injuries and that passengers could exit when it was safe.\n\nBaidu’s Apollo Go operates in Wuhan and other cities as part of a broader push into robotaxi services; the company has not commented yet on the outage.\n\nAnalysts say the incident highlights the complexity of autonomous systems and the need for robust safety protocols as more fleets come online. Investigators are looking into the cause, with authorities promising updates as they review system logs.
