Waymo robotaxis, Lime e-scooters set ablaze during LA protests

Summary

This article was originally published June 9 at 6:43 am PT. It has been updated to reflect new information from Waymo. Several Waymo robotaxis and Lime e-scooters were set on fire this weekend amid unrest in downtown Los Angeles spurred by groups protesting immigration raids in the city by the Trump administration. A group of protesters attacked five Waymo autonomous vehicles on Los Angeles Street early on Sunday evening, reports the Los Angeles Times. They slashed tires, broke windows, spray-painted anti-ICE messages, and set the cars on fire. At one point, “the besieged Waymos began honking their horns in coordinated cacophony,” the LA Times wrote. The Times reports that some Lime e-scooters were also thrown into the burning shells of Waymo’s Jaguar I-Paces. The LAPD noted that setting fire to lithium-ion batteries releases toxic gases like hydrogen fluoride, posing a risk to bystanders. It’s not clear why protesters attacked the Waymo vehicles. In the past, police have tapped robotaxi companies for footage to help solve crimes — in April, 404 Media reported that the LAPD published video footage obtained from a Waymo driverless car as part of an investigation into a separate hit-and-run incident. Lime did not respond to a request for comment. Waymo told TechCrunch the company was in touch with the LAPD and would pursue criminal prosecution of and damages from those who vandalized its robotaxis in LA over the weekend. Waymo did not respond to TechCrunch’s question about providing camera footage to authorities to identify protesters. There have been social media reports that Waymo has removed its vehicles from LA and suspended its service. TechCrunch has reached out to Waymo to learn more. Since Waymo launched its self-driving ride-hail service in Los Angeles in November 2024, its cars have been the target of several acts of vandalism in Los Angeles and other cities it operates in. In July 2024, a Bay Area resident was charged with vandalizing 17 Waymos in San Franc...