Autonomous vehicle company Waymo has suspended operations in downtown Los Angeles after anti-ICE protesters caused nearly $1 million in damages by setting multiple self-driving cars ablaze.
At a Glance
- Waymo has halted autonomous vehicle services in downtown Los Angeles following targeted arson attacks
- Anti-ICE protesters damaged at least five self-driving vehicles by setting them on fire, slashing tires, and spray-painting messages
- Damages are estimated between $750,000 and $1 million
- The LAPD warned about dangers from burning lithium-ion batteries, which release toxic gases
- Waymo, formerly the Google Self-Driving Project, operates under Alphabet Inc.
Violent Attacks Force Service Suspension
Waymo, a leading American autonomous vehicle company, has suspended all operations in downtown Los Angeles following a series of targeted arson attacks on its self-driving fleet. The violence erupted over the weekend when anti-ICE protesters specifically targeted the company’s vehicles. At least five Waymo cars were severely damaged in the incidents, prompting the company to prioritize safety concerns and temporarily withdraw services from the area.
The attacks represent a significant escalation in anti-technology protests in the city, with demonstrators employing extreme tactics including the use of makeshift flamethrowers to set vehicle interiors ablaze. The Los Angeles Police Department has initiated an investigation into these incidents, which appear to be coordinated and ideologically motivated rather than random acts of vandalism.
Extensive Damage and Safety Concerns
The protesters’ systematic assault on the Waymo vehicles involved slashing tires, smashing windows, and spray-painting anti-ICE messages across the cars. In more violent escalations, demonstrators physically tore doors from the vehicles before using improvised flamethrowers to ignite the interiors. The estimated cost of damages to the five targeted vehicles ranges between $750,000 and $1 million, representing a substantial financial loss for the company.
Autonomous taxi service Waymo has suspended its service in parts of LA following five of the company’s vehicles being set ablaze over the weekend during violent anti-ICE riots that rocked the city.
Per the Washington Post, the company said that it had removed its vehicles from… pic.twitter.com/MtePSR54q9
— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) June 9, 2025
The LAPD has issued public safety warnings regarding the particular dangers associated with these attacks. The lithium-ion batteries that power these autonomous vehicles pose serious hazards when burned, releasing toxic gases that threaten both the public and emergency responders. This aspect of the attacks demonstrates an alarming disregard for public safety beyond the targeted property damage.
Company Background and Future Plans
Waymo began its journey as the Google Self-Driving Project before being rebranded in 2016 as a subsidiary under Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company. The company has been at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology development, with commercial deployments in multiple cities across the United States. The Los Angeles expansion represented part of the company’s strategic growth into major urban markets.
While Waymo has not provided a specific timeline for resuming operations in downtown Los Angeles, the company has indicated that service restoration will depend on improved security conditions. The targeted nature of these attacks has forced the company to reassess its safety protocols and deployment strategy in areas experiencing civil unrest or ideologically motivated opposition to autonomous technology.
