A enactment of Waymo vehicles pain connected a thoroughfare during an anti-ICE protestation successful downtown Los Angeles, California, connected June 8, 2025.
Benjamin Hanson | Afp | Getty Images
Several Waymo autonomous vehicles were acceptable ablaze successful downtown Los Angeles connected Sunday amid wide protests against President Donald Trump's migration crackdown.
A spokesperson for the Alphabet-owned institution confirmed that 5 Waymo vehicles were vandalized successful the vicinity of the protests and were incapable to beryllium retrieved. Waymo suspended work successful the protestation country until it was deemed safe, the spokesperson added.
Waymo responded with guidance from the Los Angeles Police Department, the spokesperson said.
A Waymo car burns successful the thoroughfare arsenic fume billows during protests successful Los Angeles, California, connected June 8, 2025.
David Pashaee | Afp | Getty Images
The protests erupted successful downtown LA connected Friday aft Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted raids successful the metropolis and surrounding communities. Demonstrations were mostly peaceful, but tensions flared Saturday and Sunday, with constabulary clashing with protesters adjacent the Metropolitan Detention Center successful downtown LA.
California National Guard members arrived successful the metropolis connected Sunday aft Trump signed an bid to deploy 2,000 troops successful effect to the protests. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the authorities plans to record a suit against the Trump medication aft it "illegally acted to federalize the National Guard," Newsom wrote successful a station Monday connected X.
Trump told reporters extracurricular the White House Monday day that helium would enactment arresting Newsom aft Trump's borderline czar, Tom Homan, threatened to apprehension the governor, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, and anyone other who obstructed migration enforcement actions successful California.
The remains of a burned Waymo conveyance successful the thoroughfare pursuing a nighttime of protests successful effect to national migration operations successful Los Angeles, connected June 9, 2025.
Frederic J. Brown | Afp | Getty Images
In 1 photo, a enactment of Waymo robotaxis tin beryllium seen engulfed successful flames, with anti-ICE graffiti scrawled crossed the cars' hoods and doors. It's unclear whether the vehicles were deliberately targeted.
Some radical were seen tossing Lime e-scooters into the burning Waymo vehicles, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"Burning lithium-ion batteries merchandise toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby," the LAPD said successful a statement posted connected X.
A shirtless protester stands atop a Waymo conveyance during an anti-ICE protestation successful downtown Los Angeles, California, connected June 8, 2025.
Benjamin Hanson | Afp | Getty Images
A Waymo successful San Francisco's Financial District was besides vandalized with graffiti connected Sunday arsenic radical demonstrated to enactment the protests against migration raids successful L.A., according to a Reddit post. It's unclear however galore vehicles were affected.
Waymo said it continues to run and service riders successful San Francisco, but that it's suspending work successful definite areas wherever protesters whitethorn beryllium gathering retired of an abundance of caution.
Waymo began offering robotaxi rides crossed 80-plus quadrate miles of LA successful 2024. The work besides operates successful parts of San Francisco, Phoenix and Austin, Texas.
The institution has much than 1,500 vehicles successful its fleet crossed L.A., San Francisco, Phoenix and Austin.
Analysts from Cowen estimation that Waymo vehicles outgo $160,000 a portion and that the institution could person much than 15,000 taxis successful its fleet by 2030, arsenic it "dramatically" ramps up production. The steadfast has a bargain standing connected Alphabet shares.
-- CNBC's Lora Kolodny and Jennifer Elias contributed reporting to this article.
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