Baidu robotaxis stall in Wuhan after system failure

A system failure caused a widespread outage for Apollo Go, the robotaxi service operated by Chinese technology company Baidu, in the city of Wuhan, China. Local police attributed the disruption to a “system failure.” Reuters reported that at least 100 robotaxis—which are autonomous vehicles operating as a taxi service—were affected by the technical error. The outage left passengers stranded throughout the city, trapping passengers for up to two hours, according to multiple media reports as well as numerous video and social media posts. Many of these stranded passengers shared their experiences online, posting videos of the immobilized vehicles. Baidu has not shared what caused the widespread outage, and the company did not respond to emailed requests for comment.

The unknown technical error caused the robotaxis to suddenly freeze, sometimes stopping in dangerous spots such as the fast lane of roadways, according to reports from Wired. This sudden immobilization created immediate safety hazards on the city’s streets. The Wuhan police are currently investigating the incident, and officers are still investigating the matter.

Baidu is currently one of the largest robotaxi operators in China and has expanded its footprint into the Middle East. Last year, the company announced plans to deploy a fleet of more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles in Dubai over the next few years, marking a significant step in its international expansion strategy. The recent technical failure in Wuhan complicates Baidu’s international ambitions, raising questions about the readiness of its autonomous systems for large-scale deployment.

The outage is the latest incident to raise questions about the safety of robotaxis and their impact on local communities. These challenges are not isolated to China. Last December, a widespread power outage in California wiped out traffic lights, causing Waymo vehicles to become stuck. The parallel incidents highlight the persistent operational vulnerabilities that autonomous vehicle developers continue to face in real-world environments, particularly when interacting with local infrastructure.

Why it matters

The incident highlights persistent safety challenges for autonomous vehicle operators, a critical consideration as companies like Baidu aggressively pursue international expansion into markets like the Middle East.