Waymo’s autonomous robotaxi vehicles became targets during civil unrest in Los Angeles, with multiple units vandalized, damaged, and in some cases set on fire by rioters moving through neighborhoods where the company operates its fleet. The attacks on the driverless vehicles represent a troubling escalation in hostility toward autonomous vehicle technology from certain segments of the public, and they caused significant financial damage to Waymo’s operational fleet. Videos of the burning robotaxis spread widely across social media, becoming some of the most shared imagery from the Los Angeles unrest.
The targeting of Waymo vehicles specifically may reflect broader anxieties about automation, job displacement, and the rapid introduction of unfamiliar technology into public spaces. Waymo has faced questions from city officials and community groups in various markets about the social impact of its operations, and incidents like this one are likely to intensify those conversations. The company has not announced specific plans to reduce operations in response to the attacks, but the damage sustained will take considerable time and resources to repair.