At least five of Waymo’s self-driving Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles were set on fire during violent unrest in Los Angeles over the weekend, potentially representing as much as 5% of the company’s local fleet, according to eyewitnesses and local reports.
The destruction came amid large-scale protests following U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the area last week. While the demonstrations were mostly peaceful, some turned violent, with clashes reported between protestors and police. President Trump authorized the deployment of the National Guard in response to the escalating unrest.
Multiple Waymo vehicles set ablaze here in LA pic.twitter.com/p2iVDUbEIL
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) June 9, 2025
In one incident, multiple Waymo vehicles were allegedly called to the intersection of Arcadia and Alameda streets, where they were vandalized and marked with anti-ICE messages. Around 5 p.m. on Sunday, the damaged vehicles were set ablaze. Due to ongoing protests in the area, emergency services were unable to reach the scene in time to prevent the cars from being completely destroyed.
Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, operates approximately 100 vehicles in Los Angeles and completes more than 120,000 rides per week across California. The company’s broader fleet includes over 1,500 vehicles operating in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin. Despite the loss, Waymo is expected to replenish the damaged vehicles quickly. It recently acquired more than 2,000 Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles to expand its autonomous fleet nationwide.
Waymo has established a significant presence in the U.S. ride-hailing market, with estimates suggesting it holds a 20% share in San Francisco alone.