Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Baidu Robotaxis Freeze Across Wuhan After System Malfunction, Police Say

The stoppage spotlights a single-point-of-failure risk for large driverless fleets.

Overview

  • More than 100 Apollo Go cars halted across Wuhan on Tuesday night, leaving riders stuck in live traffic on highways and elevated ring roads.
  • Police called it a system malfunction, reported no injuries, and said all passengers exited the vehicles safely.
  • Passengers described waits of up to 90 minutes or longer as in-car SOS buttons returned errors and customer service lines did not connect.
  • Dashcam and social posts showed blocked lanes and at least one collision as other drivers braked or swerved to avoid the stationary taxis.
  • Baidu has not given a detailed explanation as investigations continue, raising scrutiny of Wuhan’s 1,000-plus-car hub and the company’s overseas expansion plans.