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Waymo is avoiding downtown LA after its taxis were vandalized during ICE protests
Two Waymo taxis burn near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles.
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Jae C. Hong
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AP
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Topline:
If you’re in downtown Los Angeles, don’t try to hail an autonomous Waymo taxi. It won’t come.
Cars vandalized: A Waymo spokesperson said five of the Alphabet-owned company’s cars were vandalized during anti-ICE protests over the weekend.
Videos from downtown L.A. over the weekend show the autonomous taxis on fire.
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Multiple Waymo vehicles set ablaze here in LA pic.twitter.com/p2iVDUbEIL
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) June 9, 2025
The spokesperson added that the company believes its cars happened to be present at the same time of the protests rather than being intentionally targeted.
No Waymos downtown: In response to the vandalism, the spokesperson said Waymo taxis won’t be serving downtown L.A. for the time being. In other parts of L.A., Waymo is operating as usual. The spokesperson didn’t provide a timeline for when its cars will return to downtown. The company’s taxis are also being diverted from parts of San Francisco, where similar anti-ICE protests took place over the weekend, according to CBS News.
Waymo and LAPD: The Waymo spokesperson said it’s coordinating with and receiving guidance from the L.A. Police Department. When reached for comment, however, an LAPD spokesperson said it has no information about the vehicles. “We saw the vehicle fires on TV just as everyone else did,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier this year, LAPD published footage of a hit and run and asked the public to help identify the driver of the vehicle. That footage came from a Waymo taxi that was parked on the side of the street, according to 404 Media.
A Waymo spokesperson told 404 Media that it provides "information and data to law enforcement" only when it receives and reviews a “valid legal request,” like a warrant or subpoena.
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