China Halts New Robotaxi Licenses Following System Failure (heise.de)

• Immediate freeze on new autonomous taxi licensing in China.
• Baidu system failure in Wuhan triggered the regulatory crackdown.
• Focus shifting to systemic software safety and fail-safe standards.

"Chinese authorities have suspended the issuance of new licenses for autonomous taxis following a major software failure involving Baidu's fleet in Wuhan. The incident, which paralyzed 100 vehicles, has prompted a nationwide review of safety protocols. Regulators are prioritizing the mitigation of systemic risks associated with scaling autonomous driving technologies. This pause serves as a critical check on the rapid expansion of robotaxi services, forcing companies to prove higher levels of software resilience and fail-safe integration before receiving further operational permits."