The police are investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made yet. This event has highlighted the ongoing tensions between San Francisco residents and the presence of driverless cars in the city. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of these vehicles, especially after a recent incident where a Waymo vehicle struck a cyclist. Last year, operations of Cruise, a Waymo rival, were suspended by the California Department of Motor Vehicles after a robotaxi ran over a pedestrian.
Key takeaways:
- A Waymo self-driving car was vandalized and set on fire in San Francisco's Chinatown during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.
- The San Francisco Fire Department reported that the vehicle was surrounded, graffiti'd, windows were broken, and a firework was lit inside the vehicle, causing it to catch fire.
- No arrests have been made as of Monday afternoon, and the police are still investigating the incident.
- There have been long-standing tensions between San Francisco residents and driverless cars, with incidents of disruption and accidents involving these vehicles reported in the past.