China has suspended issuing new licenses for autonomous vehicles after dozens of
Baidu Apollo Go robotaxis stopped operating in Wuhan last month, stranding
passengers and disrupting traffic, according to people familiar with the matter.
Three regulators, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology,
convened a meeting with local officials overseeing robotaxi pilots and called
for safety reviews and enhanced monitoring. The suspension prevents companies
from expanding fleets or launching new projects in additional cities. Baidu’s
Wuhan robotaxi operations have also been suspended pending investigation.