Self-Driving Taxis Suddenly Stop in Wuhan, China

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国 武漢 自動運転タクシーが走行中に突然停止するトラブル

2026年4月1日午後11時51分

中国

中国内陸部の都市、武漢で多数の自動運転タクシーが走行中に突然停止し、路上で立往生するトラブルがありました。けがをした人はいなかったということですが、急速に拡大するサービスの安全性をめぐって懸念の声も出ています。

現地の警察によりますと、内陸部の武漢で3月31日夜、中国のIT大手「百度」が運行する自動運転タクシーが走行中に突然停止するトラブルが起きました。

SNSに投稿された動画では、自動運転タクシーとみられる複数の車がハザードランプを点滅させて路上で立往生していて、後続の車が前に進めず渋滞が起きている様子も確認できます。

これについて現地の警察は「初期段階の判断ではシステムの故障が原因とみられる。乗客は安全に降車しけが人はいない」と発表しました。

中国では各地で自動運転タクシーのサービスが急速に広がっていますが、地元メディアは安全性をめぐる懸念を伝えています。

Translation

Self-Driving Taxis Suddenly Stop in Wuhan, China

China

In Wuhan, an inland city in China, several self-driving taxis suddenly stopped while in motion, leaving them stranded on the road. No injuries were reported, yet concerns had been raised regarding the safety of this rapidly expanding service.

According to local police, on the night of March 31st in Wuhan, an inland city, self-driving taxis operated by the Chinese IT giant Baidu suddenly stopped while driving.

Videos posted on social media show multiple vehicles, believed to be self-driving taxis, with their hazard lights flashing, stranded on the road, causing traffic congestion as following vehicles are unable to move forward.

Regarding this incident, local police announced that "Initial assessments suggest a system malfunction was the cause. Passengers safely disembarked, and there were no injuries."

Self-driving taxi services were rapidly expanding across China, but local media outlets were expressing concerns regarding safety.

So, in Wuhan in China, several self-driving taxis suddenly stopped while was in motion, leaving them stranded on the road and causing chaos. Apparently, a system malfunction has caused the taxi stoppage. I am interested in knowing the reason for such a malfunction.