taxi licensing

China Tightens Robotaxi Licensing After Baidu Apollo Go Incident Strands Passengers in Wuhan

China is tightening licensing requirements for robotaxis after a March 31 system failure involving Baidu's Apollo Go fleet left passengers stranded during evening rush hour in Wuhan, disrupting traffic for hours. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology convened a meeting with transport authorities urging the industry to conduct self-inspections and strengthen safety oversight. While curbs do not amount to a complete halt, new approvals for autonomous driving licenses will be harder to secure as regulators shift focus from rapid expansion to safety and stability.