Baidu Apollo Go robotaxi falls into construction pit in Chongqing
A Baidu Apollo Go robotaxi fell into a construction pit in Chongqing while carrying a passenger. The passenger escaped uninjured. The incident raised concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicle operations.
What happened
An autonomous vehicle operated by Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi service fell into a deep construction pit while carrying a female passenger in Chongqing, southwestern China on Wednesday.
Videos circulating on Chinese social media showed a white vehicle bearing a Baidu Apollo logo at the bottom of a construction trench. A local shop owner told Huashang Newspaper that the construction site had barriers and warning signs, though it remained unclear how the vehicle bypassed these safety measures.
Reported impact
The female passenger was uninjured and was rescued by local residents using a ladder.
Index analysis
The incident sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media over the safety of robotaxis.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.