A driverless taxi operated by Waymo was attacked in San Francisco’s Chinatown. A person jumped on the hood and smashed the windshield, then a crowd gathered and covered the car in spray paint while breaking its windows. They ultimately set the car on fire. When the fire department arrived minutes later, the car was already fully engulfed in flames. Videos posted online show the burnt-out wreck of the electric Waymo Jaguar. There is tension between San Francisco residents and automated vehicles in the city following incidents where robotaxis have struck pedestrians or blocked traffic. This attack highlights the challenges autonomous vehicle companies face in dealing with vandalism and public opposition when deploying their technology.
