Baidu Robotaxis Stall in Wuhan Due to System Failure

Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxis experienced a widespread outage in Wuhan, China, due to a system failure, according to reports from The Guardian, TimesLIVE, Reuters, and CNBC. The incident occurred late on Tuesday when multiple vehicles stopped mid-traffic, causing disruptions but no injuries. Police received numerous reports of Apollo Go cars unable to move, with passengers safely exiting the stalled vehicles.

The cause of the outage is still under investigation. A traffic police officer mentioned that at least 100 Apollo Go vehicles were affected, and while car doors could be opened, some passengers hesitated to exit due to heavy traffic and called for assistance. Videos shared on social media showed stalled robotaxis obstructing busy roads.

One rider recounted their 90-minute ordeal on the Chinese social media platform RedNote, stating that their vehicle broke down on an elevated highway in Wuhan at 9pm local time. The rider called Apollo Go's customer service but initially couldn't get through, eventually being rescued after repeated calls and a delayed response from the company.

The incident has reignited discussions about the safety and readiness of autonomous vehicle services in China. Previous incidents include an Apollo Go robotaxi falling into a construction pit in Chongqing last August, another catching fire in Beijing operated by Pony.ai in May, and a Baidu-produced autonomous vehicle running over two pedestrians in Zhuzhou last December. No injuries were reported in any of these cases.

Baidu is one of the largest operators of autonomous driving fleets in China, alongside companies like Pony.ai and WeRide. These firms have expanded their commercial robotaxi services across major Chinese cities and into overseas markets such as the Middle East. The incident highlights ongoing challenges for the industry despite significant advancements.