New ‘KnoWay’ robotaxis cause chaos in upcoming Grand Theft Auto Online DLC

The newest expansion to Grand Theft Auto Online introduces robotaxis from a fictional — yet unmistakably inspired — company called “KnoWay,” whose primary role appears to be creating absolute mayhem.

A trailer released Friday features KnoWay-branded vans equipped with lidar-like sensors barreling through city streets, smashing into cars, and even ploughing directly through a billboard for the same made-up company.

Although the level of destruction far exceeds anything seen from real-world autonomous vehicles — including those from Waymo, whose early Chrysler Pacifica robotaxis the KnoWay vans clearly resemble — the parody is unmistakable. The expansion, titled “A Safehouse in the Hills,” will be available beginning December 10.

It remains unclear whether the robotaxis shown in the trailer have been hijacked by characters, as is common in GTA gameplay, or whether they’ve malfunctioned and gone rogue on their own. The second option seems more likely, especially since Rockstar Games says the update will task players with “stopping the development of a mass surveillance network in an all-new action-packed adventure.”

The trailer also hints at a storyline involving an AI assistant named “Haviland,” suggesting that themes around modern tech culture will play heavily into this DLC.

Waymo, the real company loosely referenced here, has previously stated that it will refuse government requests for onboard footage that are “overly broad and unlawful.” Despite this, critics have long raised concerns about the growing surveillance implications of autonomous fleets. That tension has contributed to incidents of vandalism involving Waymo’s vehicles — including burned SUVs, shattered windows, and repeated tire-slashing across multiple U.S. cities.

Rockstar appears to lean heavily into these cultural themes. KnoWay’s in-game slogan humorously reads:
“We Kno where you’re going.”
It’s easy to imagine players taking their frustrations out on the virtual robotaxis once the update becomes available later this month.

Waymo declined to comment on the parody.

Earlier this year at TechCrunch Disrupt, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana condemned the vandalism directed at the company’s vehicles, saying they are “very focused on working with law enforcement to make sure that we pursue the people who are committing these crimes against our fleet.”