China Puts Autonomous Vehicles on Hold: Baidu Apollo Go Halts, Geely Prepares EVA Cab. China has suspended issuing new licenses for autonomous vehicles after Baidu Apollo Go halted operations in Wuhan. Despite the restrictions, Geely is preparing to launch the EVA Cab with Level 4 autonomy. New regulations could impact the rollout schedule of these models.
China's autonomous vehicle market has encountered an unexpected setback: the country's authorities have temporarily suspended the issuance of new permits for driverless cars following the high-profile shutdown of Baidu Apollo Go's entire fleet in Wuhan. This decision marks the first serious warning to an industry recently considered among the most promising in the world. For the Spanish market, where interest in autonomous driving technology remains consistently high, such news from China is significant not only as an indicator of global trends but also as a possible reference point for future regulatory decisions in Europe.
Baidu Apollo Go Shutdown: An Alarming Signal for the Industry
In March this year, Baidu Apollo Go — the largest robotaxi operator in China — was forced to completely cease operations in Wuhan. The reason was technical malfunctions that caused vehicles to stop abruptly on city streets, leaving passengers unable to complete their journeys and causing disruptions to city traffic. This incident drew attention not only from Chinese regulators but also from international experts, as Apollo Go had been seen as one of the most advanced projects in the field of autonomous transportation.
Chinese authorities responded promptly: the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with the traffic police, held an emergency meeting to prevent similar incidents in other cities where robotaxi trials are underway. As a result, it was decided to temporarily freeze the issuance of new licenses for autonomous vehicles and restrict the entry of new operators to the market. This means that in the coming months, there will be no new fleets of driverless cars launched in China, and existing projects will be under close scrutiny.
Geely and EVA Cab: Betting on Level 4
Despite stricter regulations, Chinese automakers are not slowing down the development of autonomous technologies. Geely Group, known in Europe and Spain primarily for its electric vehicles and strong market presence, has introduced a new project—EVA Cab, a level 4 autonomous robotaxi. The model was developed in partnership with subsidiaries AFARI Technology and CaoCao Mobility and is already undergoing pilot trials in Hangzhou and Suzhou.
The EVA Cab is capable of fully autonomous movement within pre-defined zones and conditions, requiring no passenger control during driving. Technically, the model stands out thanks to the world’s first digital LiDAR with a resolution of 2,160 lines and a processing speed of 25.92 million points per second, providing detection range of up to 600 meters. For the Spanish market, where autonomous technologies are only beginning to appear in urban environments, solutions like this could serve as a benchmark for future launches and testing.
Market and prospects: what awaits autonomous vehicles
For now, the EVA Cab is officially announced for release only in China and is not expected before 2027, with new regulatory restrictions potentially adjusting the launch timing and scale of deployment. The Spanish market is closely monitoring such projects: China’s experience demonstrates that even the most advanced autonomous driving systems are not immune to technical failures and require ongoing government oversight. In Europe, where safety and certification issues are particularly pressing, Chinese cases may impact the pace of robotaxi adoption and the development of new standards.
In light of recent events, it should be noted that interest in hybrid and electric models in Spain remains high, while competition among brands is intensifying. For example, the recent changes in the positioning of the MG HS PHEV on the Spanish market, where the model is no longer considered the most affordable among hybrids, clearly demonstrate how quickly the balance of power in the new technology segment is shifting. More details on how the MG HS PHEV lost its price leadership can be found in the article about the reshuffling among hybrids in Spain.
It is important for Spanish buyers and industry professionals to understand: China's experience with Baidu Apollo Go and new Geely projects is not only a technological challenge, but also a reminder of the need for a flexible regulatory environment. While autonomous vehicles remain experimental, it is the combination of innovation and regulation that will determine how quickly such solutions appear on Spain's roads.
