Baidu Robotaxis Stall in Wuhan, Stranding Passengers

In Wuhan, central China, dozens of self-driving robotaxis operated by Baidu's Apollo Go service stalled in traffic late Tuesday, stranding passengers and prompting police assistance, according to local authorities. The incident, attributed to a system malfunction, affected at least 100 vehicles and highlighted ongoing challenges in autonomous vehicle deployment, though no injuries were reported.

Police in Hubei province received a flurry of calls starting around evening rush hour as the driverless cars suddenly stopped in the middle of roads, including busy highways and intersections. "Multiple Apollo Go cars stopped in the middle of the road, unable to move," officials stated, noting that passengers could exit the vehicles since the doors remained unlocked. However, heavy traffic left some riders hesitant to leave, leading them to contact emergency services for help. Local reports indicated that certain passengers waited nearly two hours inside the stalled cars before safely disembarking.

Eyewitness accounts and social media videos captured the disruptions. One rider shared footage of repeated unsuccessful attempts to reach customer support via an in-car tablet, writing...