Baidu Apollo Go robotaxis immobilize in Wuhan due to system failure

On March 31, 2026, over 100 autonomous robotaxis operated by Baidu's Apollo Go service suddenly stalled in Wuhan, China, at approximately 8:56 PM. The vehicles stopped in the middle of roads and expressways, creating significant traffic congestion and safety hazards. Local police confirmed the incident was caused by a system failure. Passengers remained trapped inside some vehicles for over 90 minutes, with some reports noting that internal systems instructed occupants to stay inside and wait for assistance. While some sources reported minor collisions resulting from the sudden stops, police confirmed there were no injuries and all passengers were eventually evacuated safely. Baidu did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the malfunction. This incident follows a similar large-scale outage reported in December 2025. The company currently plans to test its autonomous technology in the UK in 2026, pending regulatory approval.