Waymo Robotaxis Targeted in LA Protests: $1M Loss Sparks Safety and Techlash Debate

Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle subsidiary, faced violent backlash during Los Angeles protests against federal immigration raids. At least five of its self-driving taxis were torched NEAR the Metropolitan Detention Center, with damages exceeding $1 million. Demonstrators escalated from peaceful protests to vandalizing vehicles—slashing tires, smashing windows, and deploying makeshift flamethrowers before igniting them.

The burning lithium-ion batteries in Waymo's electric fleet released toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, complicating firefighting efforts. The incident amplifies existing concerns about autonomous vehicle safety and public distrust of big tech's urban experiments. Alphabet shares (GOOGL) showed minimal reaction, suggesting markets view this as an isolated event rather than systemic risk.