China has suspended the issuance of new licenses for autonomous vehicles following a major incident involving Baidu's robotaxi fleet in Wuhan, Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. The decision comes after dozens of Baidu's Apollo Go self-driving taxis became gridlocked in traffic last month, triggering public safety concerns and prompting regulators to step in.
According to reports, the robotaxis malfunctioned simultaneously, blocking key intersections and causing widespread disruption. The incident has raised questions about the readiness of autonomous driving technology for large-scale deployment in dense urban environments.
A spokesperson for Baidu stated that the company is cooperating with authorities and has temporarily paused expansion of its robotaxi services in some cities. The Chinese government has not issued an official statement but is believed to be reviewing safety protocols before lifting the freeze.
Industry analysts note that the freeze could slow China's ambitious plans to lead the world in autonomous vehicle adoption, but safety remains the top priority for regulators.