Waymo Pulls Driverless Taxis Following Riots in Los Angeles

Waymo’s autonomous taxis were withdrawn from downtown Los Angeles on Monday after several of their vehicles were set on fire during protests related to federal immigration raids over the weekend.

The taxi service, owned by Google, decided to remove its fleet from the area, citing safety as a major concern. Reports indicate that rioters vandalized, spray-painted, and ignited at least six of the taxis. Images circulating on social media depicted individuals posing with Mexican flags on top of the burning vehicles amid the chaos in the streets.

“Out of an abundance of caution given the recent activity, we removed vehicles from Downtown Los Angeles and will not be serving that specific area of LA at the moment,” a Waymo spokesperson shared with Fortune.

The company had not responded to inquiries from the news foundation regarding the situation.

Each damaged Waymo vehicle represents a considerable financial loss, as electric Jaguar I-Pace cars equipped with advanced technology are estimated to be worth between $150,000 and $200,000, as stated by a report from the Wall Street Journal.

Additionally, the fires from these electric vehicles pose safety risks beyond those associated with regular car fires. Electric vehicle fires tend to burn hotter and for longer periods, leading firefighters to allow them to burn out instead of facing the dangers of chemical emissions.

“Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, which pose risks to first responders and those who are nearby,” noted a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department. They, too, have yet to respond to further comments about the ongoing events.

Videos purportedly showing Waymo cars leaving the city in large numbers emerged on Monday. The company is also reportedly considering pulling services from parts of San Francisco where unrest is anticipated, according to the Wall Street Journal.

This turmoil follows the deployment of National Guard troops as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out raids targeting undocumented immigrants in the Fashion District. California Governor Gavin Newsom labeled the troop deployment as “unlawful” and has called for them to return under state control.

“I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles County and return them to my command,” Newsom tweeted. “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved, which is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions…”