Waymo Robotaxis run out of charge, require towing during San Francisco's July 4 gridlock

Waymo robotaxis were disrupted by heavy Fourth of July traffic in San Francisco, leaving several vehicles stranded or towed.

FP Tech Desk|Jul 06, 2026, 16:38:18 IST

Waymo's robotaxi fleet in San Francisco ran into unexpected disruptions during the Fourth of July celebrations, with several autonomous vehicles reportedly stalling or becoming stranded amid heavy traffic and road closures.

According to a Business Insider report, several San Francisco residents shared videos on social media showing Waymo robotaxis malfunctioning, getting stuck in traffic, or being towed away during the holiday celebrations. One widely circulated clip appeared to show a Waymo vehicle driving through a box of fireworks as they erupted, while other videos captured stalled robotaxis causing traffic bottlenecks.

Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli told Business Insider that severe traffic congestion disrupted normal operations for some of the company's vehicles. San Francisco experienced significant gridlock during the Independence Day celebrations, compounded by unplanned road closures following the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks display.

The company said several robotaxis became trapped in traffic, while others were able to resume their journeys once congestion eased. Some vehicles, however, remained stationary long enough to deplete their batteries while idling and had to be towed.

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