Furious San Francisco Residents Torch Waymo I-Pace in Height of Robotaxi Rebellion

Is San Francisco ready to give up on self-driving vehicles?

UPDATE: In response to the events described below, a spokesperson for Waymo has provided an official statement to CarBuzz. The statement reads, “On Saturday, February 10th at around 9 PM, a Waymo vehicle operating in fully autonomous mode was traveling on Jackson Street in San Francisco when it was surrounded by a group of individuals who proceeded to vandalize the vehicle. The perpetrators broke a window and threw a firework inside, causing the vehicle to catch fire. Fortunately, there were no passengers in the vehicle at the time and no injuries have been reported. We are currently working closely with local authorities to address the situation.”

According to a report from CNBC, a group of individuals in San Francisco damaged a Waymo-owned Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi and proceeded to light it on fire. This troubling event implies that there may be a growing opposition towards this contentious technology among the general population.

A viral video captures a developing mob assaulting an autonomous SUV, defacing it with graffiti and causing harm to its windows. A particular clip circulating on social media depicts an individual using a skateboard to break the glass, while others kick the vehicle’s body. The expensive luxury car was later set ablaze, resulting in the destruction of both the electric vehicle and posing a danger to the general public. Fortunately, the self-driving taxi was unoccupied at the time of the incident.

Per the San Francisco Fire Department, a vehicle was intentionally ignited through the placement of a lit firework inside, resulting in it being completely engulfed in flames. The incident is currently under investigation by law enforcement authorities.

Waymo driverless car vandalized, set on fire in San Francisco's Chinatown

According to Waymo, the incident occurred at approximately 9 pm on Saturday when an unknown individual shattered one of the vehicle’s windows. The reason behind the attack remains a mystery, although the Alphabet-owned firm has assured that it is collaborating closely with law enforcement to uncover the truth.Grammar check:The subject of the sentence should be “incident” instead of “vehicle.” Change “after someone broke” to “when an unknown individual shattered.” Add a comma after “Authorities” and capitalize “the” in “the Alphabet-owned company.” Use “has assured” instead of “has said it is working.”

CarBuzz has reached out to Waymo for additional details and will provide an update on the article upon receiving a response.

By looking at the photographs, we can observe that there is not a great deal remaining of the battery-operated Jaguar except for the scorched framework and remnants of its electric propulsion system. Fortunately, the blaze was contained; fires in electric vehicles can pose a significant threat and are often more difficult to extinguish than traditional car fires.

It is yet to be determined if this is reckless destruction, however, inhabitants of California have revealed their exasperation towards autonomous cars which have been embroiled in disputes recently.Some people believe that the reported incidents involving self-driving cars are just acts of senseless vandalism. However, those living in California are growing increasingly irritated with these vehicles as they continue to be at the center of controversy in recent weeks.

Additional footage of the Waymo accident has surfaced on social media.pic.twitter.com/d2bU4BeoUb New video evidence has been discovered, shedding light on the recent Waymo incident. The footage was shared on various social media platforms and shows more details of what happened.pic.twitter.com/d2bU4BeoUbFresh footage of the Waymo event has emerged online, providing further insight into the accident that occurred. The video was uploaded and circulated on multiple social media channels, revealing additional information about the incident.pic.twitter.com/d2bU4BeoUb

In the past year, citizens of San Francisco, driven to frustration, took a stand against automated cars by employing the strategy of ‘coning’. This involves placing a traffic cone on the front of self-driving automobiles, preventing their movement until the barrier is removed. Their grievances are justifiable, as driverless cars have brought about numerous disruptions and concerns in not only San Francisco but also multiple other urban areas.

In the year 2022, a group of Cruise self-driving cars created a chaotic situation when six of them malfunctioned, causing a major traffic jam that lasted for hours. However, this pales in comparison to the countless accidents involving autonomous vehicles. In August of that same year, a Cruise robotaxi collided with an emergency vehicle, and there was another instance where a self-driving car was involved in a pedestrian incident that resulted in the victim being dragged 20 feet.

Waymo gained a lot of attention earlier this calendar month when one of its self-driving vehicles collided with a cyclist.

A Waymo vehicle was recently vandalized, with graffiti covering its exterior and broken windows. To make matters worse, someone lit a firework inside the car, causing it to ignite and become completely engulfed in flames. These shocking events were captured by Séraphine Hossenlopp and shared on social media by the San Francisco Fire Department.The disturbing images show a vehicle that was not only surrounded but also severely damaged. The once pristine windows are now shattered, the body of the car is covered in graffiti, and the interior has been destroyed by the fire. It is evident that this was a targeted act of destruction, and the consequences could have been much more severe if the fire had spread further.Authorities are now investigating this incident as an act of vandalism and arson. It is unclear who would want to target a self-driving car, but it is clear that they went to great lengths to cause damage and destruction. This reckless act not only endangered public safety but also caused significant financial loss for Waymo, the company behind these autonomous vehicles.The purpose of self-driving cars is to improve transportation and make our roads safer. However, incidents like this show that there are still individuals who choose to use technology for harm instead of good. It is a reminder that even with

Other than citizens, there is another group that is fed up with the unpredictable behavior of autonomous cars. As a matter of fact, The City of San Francisco has taken legal action against California regulators after they approved Waymo’s plan to increase their self-driving taxi services in the city. These driverless cars run non-stop round the clock, but government officials are dissatisfied with this ruling.

The lawsuit states, “As driverless autonomous vehicles (AVs) grew in numbers in San Francisco, both members of the public and city officials reported hundreds of safety incidents, including instances of interference with first responders.”

Although the advantages of self-driving cars are evident, there is still a significant distance to cover before this technology becomes widely adopted. A recent study revealed that the Cruise robotaxis have difficulty detecting obstacles such as children or potholes on the road, which is quite concerning.

If self-driving vehicles encounter continued resistance from the general population, municipal authorities may reconsider granting permission for these experiments. Additionally, companies working on autonomous technology will need to reassess their plans and guarantee flawless systems before resuming road tests.