San Francisco, Feb 1, 2026, 05:23 PST
- Waymo is aiming to raise roughly $16 billion, pushing its valuation close to $110 billion.
- Alphabet plans to contribute around $13 billion, while external investors are also on board.
- The funding boost arrives amid U.S. regulators investigating a recent accident between a Waymo vehicle and a child.
Waymo is aiming to raise roughly $16 billion in a funding round that could push its valuation close to $110 billion, Bloomberg News reported, citing sources familiar with the plans. Alphabet is expected to contribute about $13 billion, while the remainder would come from investors like Sequoia Capital, DST Global, and Dragoneer Investment Group. Waymo declined to comment on private financial details but emphasized its focus on “safety-led operational excellence” amid rising demand. (Reuters)
The size of the proposed cheque matters—driverless taxi services aren’t cheap to operate. Cars cost money, mapping costs money, and regulators don’t cut fees just because there’s no driver behind the wheel.
This comes as big tech faces growing demands to prove their “moonshot” projects can actually become viable businesses. A funding round this large would send a clear message: Alphabet isn’t backing down.
According to Bloomberg, the discussions are confidential, with sources speaking anonymously. The report values the round at close to $110 billion, and Alphabet is anticipated to provide most of the funding. (Bloomberg)
TechCrunch reported that the Financial Times says Waymo has “nearly finalized” a funding round, with over three-quarters of the capital coming from Alphabet. The Financial Times also listed Andreessen Horowitz and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sovereign fund as participants. A company spokesperson revealed Waymo has completed “over 20 million trips” and pulls in more than $350 million in annual recurring revenue, a key metric for estimating repeat business. (TechCrunch)
Waymo is pushing forward with expansion regardless. On Jan. 29, co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana announced that rides to and from San Francisco International Airport are now available for select riders, calling it “one of the most requested features.” Airport director Mike Nakornkhet described the new service as “safe, sustainable, and reliable.” (Waymo)
Waymo kicked off its fully autonomous service in Miami on Jan. 22, covering a 60-square-mile zone and already boasting close to 10,000 registered users. The company plans to extend the service to Miami International Airport next. (Waymo)
The timing couldn’t be worse. On Jan. 28, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a preliminary evaluation after a Waymo automated vehicle hit a child near a Santa Monica elementary school, according to agency documents. The report noted no safety operator was present in the vehicle. Investigators will scrutinize the system’s behavior in school zones, including compliance with speed limits and how the company responded after the incident. (NHTSA)
Competition is heating up. Waymo plans to roll out a fully driverless ride-hailing service in London by Q4 2026. Uber-backed Wayve aims to launch there this year, and Tesla, under Elon Musk’s lead, has forecast millions of robotaxis on the roads by the end of 2026. (Reuters)
Back in December, The Information revealed Waymo was negotiating a funding round valuing the company at $100 billion or more. Reuters added that this round might top $10 billion and could close early this year. (Reuters)
Investors are stuck with two main points to track: if the round actually closes at the reported size, and whether regulators impose changes that could delay deployments. Waymo claims scale and safety as its strengths, but the coming months will reveal how well those two hold up side by side.
