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Waymo suspends robotaxi rides near LA protests after 5 cars are set ablaze

9 June 2025 at 16:21
Waymo robotaxi fire LA protests
Multiple Waymo vehicles were set on fire in Los Angeles amid protests against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

David Pashaee / Middle East Images via AFP

  • Five Waymo vehicles were set on fire during protests in LA about Trump's immigration crackdown.
  • The company suspended service in downtown LA, a spokesperson confirmed to BI.
  • Waymo doesn't think the vehicles were intentionally targeted and is working with the LAPD.

Waymo suspended robotaxi service in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday after five vehicles were set on fire during protests against President Donald Trump's immigration raids in the city.

Photos show Waymo cars covered in anti-ICE graffiti burning in the street, engulfed in smoke.

A spokesperson for Waymo confirmed to Business Insider that five vehicles had been vandalized during the protests. The company temporarily suspended service in downtown LA and doesn't think its vehicles were intentionally targeted, the spokesperson said. Waymo is working with the Los Angeles Police Department, they added.

Waymo vehicle on fire in LA anti-ICE protests
The protests were largely peaceful, but some violence broke out over the weekend.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Remains of burned Waymo vehicle
The remains of a Waymo vehicle were left on the street.

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

On Sunday night, the LAPD said on X that "burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases." Electric vehicles often use lithium-ion batteries.

The spokesperson told BI that Waymo, whichΒ AlphabetΒ owns, operates more than 300 vehicles in LA and is continuing operations in other parts of the city.

Protestors standing on Waymo vehicles with flags in Los Angeles protests
The company said five vehicles were set ablaze.

RINGO CHIU / AFP

It's not the first time that Waymo vehicles have been targeted in California. Last year, a crowd in San Francisco set one of the robotaxis on fire during Lunar New Year celebrations amid a wave of distrust about driverless vehicles.

The protests broke out on Friday after an immigration raid in the city. Over the weekend, Trump bypassed California Gov. Gavin Newsom's authority and ordered 2,000 National Guard members to the LA area. Despite the dramatic images, the protests have largely been peaceful, according to multiple reports.

The demonstrations have become a political lightning rod between Newsom and Trump, and the governor has announced that he's suing the administration. They may, however, serve as an olive branch between the president and Elon Musk, who had an ugly falling out last week.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Elon Musk backs up Trump amid LA protests

9 June 2025 at 14:41
Elon Musk
The supportive reposts from Musk came days after his feud with Trump reached a dramatic apex.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

  • Elon Musk reshared two posts from Trump on Sunday amid protests in LA.
  • It comes days after the feud between the two men reached a peak.
  • Musk also shared an image of a masked protester waving a Mexican flag, writing: "This is not ok."

Elon Musk is back to cheering President Donald Trump on β€” for now.

On Sunday night, amid protests in the Los Angeles area, Musk posted a screenshot of a Truth Social post from Trump denouncing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass.

The president and his allies have cast the ongoing demonstrations, which began in response to immigration raids, as an "insurrection." His administration ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members to the LA area over Newsom's objections.

pic.twitter.com/1keU3EnfnH

β€” Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2025

Earlier on Sunday night, Musk reposted a Truth Social post screenshot from Vice President JD Vance about the administration's response, adding two American flag emojis.

He also shared an image of a masked protester waving a Mexican flag on top of a damaged vehicle, writing: "This is not ok."

The posts come just days after the feud between Musk and Trump reached a fever pitch last week. At one point, Musk approvingly shared a post suggesting that Trump be impeached, while Trump floated revoking Musk's companies' government contracts.

The public fighting between the two men largely subsided over the weekend, and Musk deleted some of his posts, including one declaring that Trump was in the "Epstein files."

Trump has said that he has no plans to repair his relationship with Musk.

The feud began after Musk departed his role as the informal leader of the White House DOGE Office, with the tech titan criticizing Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" for adding trillions to the deficit over the next 10 years.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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