Waymo has halted its robotaxi service in Los Angeles after multiple self-driving cars were set ablaze as protests over federal immigration raids unfolded in the city.
A Waymo spokesperson confirmed the decision to remove its vehicles from downtown Los Angeles and pause services in that area was made in coordination with the Los Angeles Police Department.
The spokesperson noted Waymo is still operating in Los Angeles and the temporary pause is out of an abundance of caution.
Five Waymo vehicles that were lined up on the street in Los Angeles became entangled in the protests early Sunday evening, the Los Angeles Times reported. Windows were smashed, tires were slashed and messages against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were spray painted on the vehicles, according to the news outlet, which added that three of the cars were set on fire.
Waymo does not believe its vehicles were intentionally targeted, the company spokesperson said.
Protests unfolded in Los Angeles this weekend over recent ICE raids in the city. Tensions escalated on Sunday after President Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles without local or state approval to quell the protests.
Trump and his team accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and other officials of being too lenient on the demonstrators, who destroyed property or set cars on fire.
Newsom said California will sue the Trump administration over its deployment of the National Guard, though the White House maintains the president intervened at the right time to restore law and order and that the violence escalated before he stepped in.
