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Mass robotaxi halt disrupts Wuhan traffic
Over one hundred autonomous taxis ground to a sudden stop across Wuhan on Tuesday after a suspected system failure, reigniting debates about the reliability of self-driving vehicles.
What happened
Local police reported that a technical malfunction caused multiple Baidu Apollo Go vehicles to freeze in place on city roads. Social media footage showed at least one collision on a highway, though authorities confirmed no injuries occurred and all passengers exited safely.
Investigators are still determining the exact cause, according to a statement posted on Weibo.
Broader context
Baidu's Apollo Go service operates in numerous Chinese cities and has recently expanded through partnerships with Uber and Lyft. The ride-hailing giants announced plans in December 2025 to test Apollo Go vehicles on UK roads, pending regulatory approval for 2026 trials.
Expert reaction
Jack Stilgoe, a professor of science and technology policy at University College London, told the BBC that while autonomous vehicles may generally be safer than human drivers, incidents like Wuhan's demonstrate "entirely new types of risk."
"If we're going to make good choices about this technology, we need to understand these risks fully."
Jack Stilgoe, University College London
Recent setbacks
This is not the first disruption involving self-driving taxis. In December 2025, a power outage in San Francisco left Waymo vehicles stranded, creating widespread traffic congestion. Months earlier, in August 2025, an Apollo Go robotaxi in Chongqing plunged into a construction pit while carrying a passenger.
Next steps
Baidu has not yet commented on the Wuhan incident. Regulators in the UK are reviewing safety protocols before approving the planned Uber and Lyft trials.
