Chinese robotaxis stall in apparent ‘malfunction,’ police say

A string of self-driving robotaxis owned by Chinese internet giant Baidu stalled in central China, stranding passengers after an apparent "system malfunction," police said Wednesday. The incident occurred in Wuhan, Hubei province, where local authorities received a surge of calls on Tuesday night about "multiple Apollo Go cars stopped in the middle of the road, unable to move," according to a police statement.

Apollo Go is Baidu's driverless taxi service, which began charging for rides in Beijing in 2021 and operates in designated areas across several cities. The company has a fleet of more than 500 driverless cars, and in the fourth quarter of 2025, Apollo Go delivered 3.4 million driverless rides, with total rides increasing over 200 percent compared to the same period a year prior, according to company filings. Baidu has also announced deals to have its cars on popular rideshare apps Lyft and Uber and is seeking to expand its presence outside China.

Police investigations suggested that the cause of the stallings was a "system malfunction," though the exact nature of the issue and the number of affected cars were not specified. Social media users shared videos of themselves attempting to contact customer service from inside their stalled robotaxis as other vehicles passed by. One user wrote, "Apollo Go, are you paralysed?" alongside a video of unanswered calls to the company dialled from an in-car tablet. The light green Apollo Go logo was visible on the steering wheel. The social media user mentioned being "stuck" in the middle of the road for more than 30 minutes.

Baidu did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The incident highlights the challenges faced by autonomous vehicle companies as they scale their operations and expand into new markets. While Apollo Go has made significant strides in recent years, with a substantial increase in rides and partnerships with major rideshare platforms, setbacks like this serve as a reminder of the ongoing technical and logistical hurdles in the development and deployment of self-driving technology.

The stalling of the robotaxis in Wuhan also underscores the public's growing concerns and fascination with autonomous vehicles. As these systems become more integrated into urban transportation networks, incidents like this can spark debates about safety, reliability, and the future of mobility. For passengers trapped in their vehicles, the experience can be frustrating and even alarming, as they rely on technology that is supposed to be both efficient and seamless.

In the context of China's rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and autonomous technology, incidents like this may be seen as temporary setbacks rather than insurmountable obstacles. Baidu, as one of the leading players in the field, is likely to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the root cause of the malfunction and implement measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

As the autonomous vehicle market continues to evolve, companies like Baidu must balance the pursuit of innovation with the need for robust safety protocols and reliable systems. The stalling of the robotaxis in Wuhan serves as a stark reminder that while the potential benefits of self-driving technology are immense, the path to widespread adoption will require careful management of technical challenges and the ongoing trust of the public.