Waymo Restricts San Francisco Service Amid Rising Immigration Protests

After five Waymo autonomous taxis were set on fire during protests in Los Angeles on Sunday, the company announced on Monday that it would proactively reduce its ride services in parts of San Francisco where demonstrations opposing President Trump’s immigration policies were expected.

Waymo did not disclose the specific locations or duration of the service suspension in San Francisco. The electric Jaguar I-Pace robot taxis, equipped with numerous cameras and sensors and valued at roughly $100,000 each, have gained popularity in the city, even becoming an attraction for visitors.

A company spokesperson explained, “We are aware of potential protests and, out of an abundance of caution, will not operate in areas where gatherings are anticipated.”

Activists in San Francisco view the autonomous vehicles as symbols of resistance against the technology sector’s perceived alignment with the Trump administration. Elise Joshi, who participated in rallies, described the robot taxis as “lacking human presence” and said their destruction represents the tech industry’s historical efforts to undermine community bonds.

The decision to restrict San Francisco service followed the arson attacks on Waymo’s self-driving cars in Los Angeles amid large-scale protests against increased immigration enforcement. Images circulated widely on social media, showing damaged Waymo vehicles and protesters posing with a Mexican flag above the burned cars, which were later used by various commentators to highlight turmoil in the city.

Waymo suspended its service in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday evening in coordination with local law enforcement. A company representative noted that the vehicles happened to be in the area at an inopportune time and stated it was unclear whether protesters specifically requested rides intending to damage the cars or were simply using the service to reach the location.

In November, Waymo announced that its self-driving taxi service was accessible to all residents in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass addressed concerns to the California Public Utilities Commission about incidents involving autonomous taxis, advocating for further testing. Meanwhile, disability rights advocates have supported the potential benefits of driverless taxis for their communities.

As of May, Waymo reported providing over 250,000 paid rides per week across its service areas, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, and Phoenix.