Waymo co-CEO on robotaxi vandalism: ‘We’re not standing for it’

Waymo, a frontrunner in the robotaxi industry in the United States, has faced a troubling wave of vandalism targeting its vehicles, with the latest incident occurring in Los Angeles over the weekend. At the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 event, co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana expressed strong disapproval of these attacks, stating that such acts are unacceptable. "Vandalism is a crime, and we are committed to collaborating with law enforcement to identify and pursue those responsible for damaging our fleet," Mawakana emphasized. She added, "It doesn’t matter whose fleet it is; damaging property is simply not tolerable." The rise in vandalism has coincided with heightened public concerns regarding privacy and surveillance, particularly during the latter years of the Trump administration, which has seen intensified government deportation efforts. This climate of distrust has led to a backlash against tech companies, including Waymo, resulting in multiple instances of vandalism and destruction of their vehicles. During her on-stage interview, Mawakana reiterated Waymo's stance against complying with government requests for surveillance footage that are deemed overly broad or unlawful. In an effort to improve public perception, she mentioned the company's initiative to showcase local artists' designs on its robotaxis, aiming to integrate the fleet more closely with community values. Despite their proactive measures against surveillance requests, Mawakana acknowledged the need for ongoing collaboration with first responders to combat the issue of vandalism effectively. "Local authorities do not want vandalism in their cities, as it jeopardizes safety, and we stand united with them in this regard," she concluded.