In a concerning incident that occurred in California's Chinatown district, a driverless taxi operated by Waymo, Google's self-driving car project, was targeted in an arson attack by a mob of lunar new year revelers. The authorities are now investigating whether this incident is part of a series of protests specifically targeting autonomous vehicles in the state.

The San Francisco fire department shared images of the incinerated Jaguar I-Pace SUV on Twitter, revealing the extent of the damage caused by the attackers. It was reported that a group of individuals jumped on the electric vehicle, smashing its windows, spray-painting graffiti, and finally setting it ablaze using a firework. Fortunately, the vehicle was unoccupied at the time, and there were no reported injuries.

Waymo issued a statement, confirming the incident and stating their collaboration with local safety officials to address the situation. As investigations continue, no arrests have been made as of Monday morning.

This attack is just the latest in a series of cases and protests involving autonomous vehicles in California, a state at the forefront of the driverless revolution. In 2022, test permit holders in California drove over 9 million miles on public roads, demonstrating the increasing presence of self-driving cars.

Last summer, The Guardian reported on a group called the Safe Street Rebels, who have been actively disrupting and disabling driverless vehicles in San Francisco since their introduction in 2022. Their method involved placing traffic cones on the vehicles, triggering a "panic mode" that rendered the cars immobile until human intervention was provided.

The safety concerns surrounding autonomous vehicles have led to further scrutiny. Waymo has faced questions regarding the safety record of their driverless taxi service. In June of last year, one of their vehicles tragically killed a dog, and a recent incident in San Francisco, where another vehicle obscured the sensors and caused the Waymo car to strike and injure a cyclist, prompted a regulatory investigation.

Another significant incident involving driverless vehicles in California involved General Motors' subsidiary, Cruise. Their test permit was suspended after they were accused of trying to conceal the severity of an incident in which a Cruise self-driving car hit a pedestrian who had been flung into its path by another vehicle. Despite the woman surviving the accident, the incident raised concerns about public safety, leading to the withdrawal of Cruise's 950-vehicle fleet.

Authorities have yet to establish a definitive link between the destruction of the Waymo car in Chinatown and protests against autonomous vehicles or the actions of opportunistic vandals. Eyewitnesses reported seeing individuals jumping on the roof, breaking the windshield, and even battering the vehicle with skateboards while others cheered. The incident unfolded rapidly, leaving no opportunity for bystanders to intervene effectively.

As investigations continue, the incident raises significant questions about the safety of autonomous vehicles and the need to address public concerns surrounding their deployment.