A significant disruption occurred Tuesday evening in Wuhan, China, as numerous robot taxis abruptly stopped functioning, stranding passengers and causing traffic obstructions. The incident represents a setback for one of the world’s largest driverless car experiments.

System Failure Causes Chaos

Wuhan police reported receiving a “succession” of reports regarding the stalled self-driving vehicles on Wednesday. The cars are part of the Apollo Go program, operated by Chinese tech giant Baidu, and have become a common sight in the city. Authorities attributed the issue to an unspecified “system failure” and have not disclosed the total number of vehicles affected.

Emergency Response

According to the police statement, “Following established contingency plans, the public security traffic control and transportation departments quickly mobilized forces to the scene to dispose of the situation in coordination with Apollo Go company staff.”

Similar Incident in San Francisco

This incident mirrors a similar event in December in San Francisco involving Waymo, an American robot taxi provider. A prolonged power failure caused Waymo vehicles to pull over and stop operating.

Passenger Account

Robbin Wu, a 19-year-old university student, shared his experience. After a grocery trip, his Apollo Go ride halted at an intersection for over three minutes. He contacted the in-car emergency help line and was eventually instructed by customer service to exit the vehicle due to an internet failure, prioritizing his safety.

China's Autonomous Vehicle Regulations

The incident occurs as China’s regulators recently urged automakers to delay the rollout of advanced self-driving features following a fatal crash in December involving a Xiaomi SU7. The crash, which killed three women, occurred after the car disengaged autopilot one second before impact.

Safety Concerns

In July, state-run television reported that tests on 36 car models revealed fewer than half could safely navigate construction sites at night. Only Tesla models demonstrated reliable assisted-driving systems across various safety scenarios.

Global Expansion of Robot Taxis

Despite these challenges, the development of self-driving technology continues globally. Baidu announced in August plans to supply Lyft with robot taxis for operation in Germany and Britain, pending regulatory approval. Waymo is also expanding to London and is actively investing in self-driving technology alongside Tesla. Other companies like Momenta, Uber, and WeRide are also pursuing driverless vehicle projects in Europe, the UAE, and Singapore.

Upcoming Auto Show

The timing of the Wuhan incident is particularly noteworthy, occurring just weeks before Beijing’s auto show – a major showcase for automotive innovation and electric vehicle technology.