Last month, numerous Apollo Go robotaxis by Baidu stopped functioning in traffic in Beijing, causing concerns, according to Bloomberg.
China has halted the issuance of new licenses for autonomous vehicles, as reported by Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources. This action was taken after several of Baidu’s robotaxis unexpectedly stopped in traffic in Wuhan, leading to disorder.
The new restrictions will prevent companies from increasing their driverless vehicles, entering new cities, or launching new test initiatives. It’s uncertain when new licenses will be issued again.
Bloomberg noted that the Wuhan incident raised alarms in Beijing, with regulators urging local authorities to scrutinize the industry to avoid similar disruptions. It’s reported to be at least the second regulatory response to a Baidu-related issue, with the company’s Wuhan operations paused pending investigation.