Waymo, the driverless ride hail service owned and operated by Alphabet Inc., suffered an existential blow on June 8, 2025. Protesters in downtown Los Angeles burned several robotaxis. This incident unfolded as the company had recently expanded its operations, offering robotaxi rides across an expansive area of over 80 square miles in Los Angeles since 2024. The protest – triggered by increasing anger over immigration enforcement policy – represented a volatile flashpoint for the AV industry.
Waymo’s expanded public service area covers a wider service network with focused vehicles in more cities. You might picture these vehicles operating now in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin. Eyewitness accounts counted at least five Waymo robotaxis set ablaze while the protests raged on. The vehicles displayed anti-ICE graffiti scrawled across their hoods and doors, signifying the protestors’ sentiments against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
For his part, Alphabet’s spokesperson on the crisis, who confirmed the attack, said that a handful of Waymo vehicles remained trapped around the protests and could not be safely collected. The company has not provided any additional information about damages incurred or recovery efforts.
Just last week the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) raised alarm bells over the risks of burning electric vehicles.
“Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby,” – LAPD
This accident occurs in the context of self-driving vehicle services rapidly spreading into cities worldwide. The protest itself did a great job of highlighting the elastic nature of public sentiment regarding these technologies. It underscored the lack of security for these vehicles during civil unrest.
Waymo is deeply engaged in addressing this crisis. This politically toxic use of autonomous vehicles has sparked discussions about the dangerous implications of deploying AVs in such intensely partisan contexts. From a policy and legal standpoint, the company should be taking a fresh look at how they approach operations in locations with elevated social risk.