Waymo’s autonomous taxis became unexpected casualties in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday when protesters set at least five vehicles on fire during heated demonstrations against federal immigration raids. The protests now in their third day have turned violent with clashes between law enforcement and crowds prompting Waymo to suspend its driverless rides in the area. Here’s the latest on the unrest and what it means for Waymo’s future in the city.
Protests Erupt and Waymo Cars Burn
The chaos began Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids detained 118 people across Los Angeles sparking outrage in the city’s large Hispanic and immigrant communities. By Sunday thousands of protesters flooded downtown blocking the 101 Freeway and clashing with police near the Metropolitan Detention Center. Amid the unrest demonstrators vandalized and torched at least five Waymo self-driving taxis on North Los Angeles Street near Arcadia Street with videos showing flames and thick black smoke rising from the electric vehicles. One clip captured a protester smashing a Waymo’s windshield before it was set alight.
Waymo a subsidiary of Alphabet and the only US company running uncrewed robotaxi services confirmed the vandalism but stated the protests were unrelated to its operations. “We are in touch with law enforcement and monitoring the situation” a Waymo spokesperson said noting the company has paused services in downtown LA for safety. The damaged vehicles worth an estimated $600000 highlight the risks of operating autonomous cars in volatile areas. Social media posts warned of toxic fumes from the burning electric vehicles.
The Bigger Picture: LA’s Immigration Unrest
The protests fueled by anger over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and his deployment of 2000 National Guard troops to LA have escalated tensions. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the troop deployment “unlawful” arguing it inflamed the situation while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged protesters to remain peaceful. Police declared the demonstrations “unlawful assemblies” after some threw bottles and concrete at officers leading to tear gas and rubber bullets being used to disperse crowds. At least 10 arrests were made Sunday with 500 Marines on standby for potential further deployment.
The targeting of Waymo vehicles appears opportunistic with some suggesting protesters called the robotaxis to the scene via the Waymo app before attacking them. Posts online noted Waymo’s 4K cameras and facial recognition AI could help identify vandals though no arrests related to the vehicle fires have been reported. The unrest has spread to nearby Paramount and Compton with images of burning cars and blocked freeways dominating headlines.
Waymo plans to expand its robotaxi service to 10 new cities by year’s end including Las Vegas and San Diego but the LA incident raises questions about safety in high-tension areas. The company’s focus on autonomous tech contrasts with Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi launch in Austin next week which relies on neural networks and cameras. For now Waymo’s suspended operations in downtown LA could delay its growth plans in the city where it runs 250000 rides weekly. Meanwhile the protests show no signs of slowing with Newsom and Trump trading blame over the escalating violence.