A mass robotaxi outage in Wuhan caused at least a hundred self-driving cars to stop mid-traffic, sparking renewed debate around the safety of driverless vehicles. Local police said initial findings suggested a 'system malfunction'.

Videos on social media have documented the incident, with one showing it resulting in a highway collision, although no injuries were reported and passengers exited their vehicles safely.

Baidu’s Apollo Go service is operating in dozens of cities worldwide, including trials with Uber and Lyft set to begin in 2026. However, both still need regulator approval.

The incident follows similar events elsewhere, such as Waymo taxis stopping due to a power outage in San Francisco, and an Apollo Go vehicle falling into a pit in Chongqing. Professor Jack Stilgoe warned that understanding the new risks posed by this technology is crucial for good decision-making.