On December 6, a Robotaxi, operated by Hello Mobility, hit and injured two people on the streets of Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. The injured individuals were taken to the Intensive Care Unit for treatment. This incident has raised concerns about China’s autonomous driving technology and regulations as the accident occurred at a pedestrian crossing. Hello Mobility, in collaboration with Ant Group and CATL, had announced its entry into the Robotaxi field in June this year, focusing on developing L4 level autonomous driving technology.
Several netizens shared videos of the incident showing that one of the individuals hit was trapped under the car with blood on their face. The video revealed the Hello self-driving vehicle with the number “3009” on its window had just crossed the pedestrian crossing when the accident happened. Passersby noticed the injured individuals and worked together to lift the car and rescue them.
According to reports, witnesses mentioned that at the time of the accident, there were passengers inside the Hello autonomous vehicle. The two injured individuals, a man and a woman, were rushed to Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital and are currently receiving treatment in the ICU with the severity of their injuries not yet fully disclosed.
Industry insiders indicated that the accident occurred on a slippery road surface, suggesting that the victims might have fallen while riding, and the Hello autonomous vehicle failed to promptly identify them on the ground, ultimately rolling one of them under the car. This incident is believed to be the first serious accident involving injuries in China’s autonomous driving industry.
Following the incident, Hello Mobility’s autonomous driving customer service stated that they are verifying the situation mentioned in the videos, and local autonomous vehicle operations have been temporarily suspended. As of now, the local authorities have not issued any official accident reports.
This accident has sparked concerns among the public regarding autonomous driving technology and official oversight. Digital influencers and experts in the field raised questions about the incident, emphasizing the need for technological improvements and strict regulatory measures to ensure public safety while promoting the advancement of the autonomous driving industry.
In the wake of this incident, the public is calling for better regulations, increased accountability, transparency in algorithm logic, and enhanced safety measures by autonomous vehicle companies to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
The city of Zhuzhou initiated planning for a comprehensive autonomous driving demonstration zone in 2023, with 2024 marking the beginning of the construction phase and the current year focusing on the expansion stage.
Hello Mobility, in collaboration with Ant Group and CATL, signed a strategic partnership agreement in April 2025, aiming to develop L4 level autonomous driving technology. Hello Mobility’s subsidiary, Shanghai Zao Fu Intelligent Technology Co., was formed with registered capital of 1.288 billion yuan to focus on the research, development, safety applications, and commercialization of L4 level autonomous driving technology.
In September, Hello Mobility unveiled its first Robotaxi model “HR1” and announced plans for its mass production in 2026 with a deployment goal of over 50,000 HR1 vehicles by 2027. The company had been actively testing on roads and operating approximately 80 vehicles on approximately 297 kilometers of open roads in Zhuzhou by November.
As the autonomous driving industry continues to evolve, it is imperative for technological advancements to prioritize safety measures and for regulatory frameworks to adapt to ensure public safety remains the top priority in the development of autonomous driving technology.