China has suspended the issuance of new licenses for autonomous vehicles following a traffic disruption caused by robotaxis in Wuhan last month, according to people familiar with the matter.

The incident involved dozens of self-driving vehicles operated by Chinese technology company Baidu, which came to a halt in traffic, creating significant congestion and chaos in the central Chinese city. The vehicles' sudden停顿 disrupted normal traffic flow and highlighted potential safety and operational concerns with autonomous vehicle deployment.

The new restrictions will prevent companies from adding additional driverless cars to their existing fleets while authorities review safety protocols and operational standards. The suspension represents a significant step back for China's autonomous vehicle industry, which has been rapidly expanding in recent years.

Baidu has been one of China's leading players in the autonomous vehicle sector, operating robotaxi services in multiple Chinese cities as part of the country's push to become a global leader in self-driving technology. The company has not publicly commented on the specific incident that triggered the licensing suspension.

The move comes as Chinese regulators increasingly scrutinize the deployment of autonomous vehicles on public roads, balancing innovation goals with public safety concerns. The suspension's duration and specific conditions for resuming new license approvals have not been disclosed.