Several passengers in China were reportedly stranded inside driverless taxis for hours due to a technical glitch that caused a fleet of robotaxis operated by Baidu to suddenly halt in the middle of traffic. The incident, which occurred in Wuhan, involved Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi service, with multiple self-driving cars experiencing malfunctions during their trips. Videos shared on social media showed the autonomous vehicles stopped on highways and intersections, disrupting traffic flow and leading to minor collisions.
While the exact number of affected vehicles remains unclear, witnesses stated that numerous robotaxis were impacted in a short period. A passenger named He recounted being stuck in a robotaxi with two friends for about 90 minutes as the vehicle repeatedly stopped before eventually pulling over near an intersection. Despite being instructed to wait for assistance, passengers faced delays in connecting with customer support and receiving clear information. After waiting for an hour with no help in sight, many passengers chose to exit the vehicles themselves, as the glitch did not lock the doors.
Although the disruption caused traffic congestion and minor accidents, no serious injuries were reported, and all passengers were able to safely exit the vehicles. Local authorities in Wuhan attributed the issue to a potential system-wide technical malfunction and confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause. The incident has sparked concerns about the reliability and safety of autonomous driving systems, especially as Baidu expands its robotaxi service to more cities.
The disruption in Wuhan has raised questions about the safety and reliability of self-driving technology. The incident, which involved Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi service, left passengers stranded in the vehicles for hours due to a technical glitch. Despite the inconvenience and traffic disruptions, no major injuries were reported, and all passengers were able to exit the vehicles safely. The authorities are investigating the incident to determine the cause of the malfunction.