Waymo Raises $1.6 Billion in Funding to Expand Its Robotaxi Network

Record Investment in the Autonomous Vehicle Sector

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company under technology giant Alphabet, has completed one of the largest fundings in the sector. The company finalized a new investment round worth $16 billion, raising its post-money valuation to $126 billion. This figure significantly surpasses its previous funding round of $5.6 billion completed in October 2024 with a $45 billion valuation.

"Scaling a Commercial Reality, Not a Concept"

Waymo officials stated that this fund is a cornerstone of the company's commercial growth strategy. The announcement included the statement, "This milestone is now built on a safety foundation that is statistically superior to human driving." It was also emphasized that "We are no longer proving a concept; we are scaling a commercial reality," highlighting that the autonomous taxi service has now moved beyond the pilot phase.

Expansion Plan to Over 20 Cities

The newly raised capital will be used to expand Waymo's robotaxi fleet both within the US and internationally. The company has plans to extend its service network to over 20 new cities. This move is seen as a step that will further intensify competition in the autonomous taxi market.

Waymo's major funding demonstrates continued investor confidence in artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies. While other technology companies continue their investments in similar areas, platforms like Firefox are focusing on offering users full control over AI features. The proliferation of autonomous vehicle technology is seen as a harbinger of a profound transformation in the transportation sector.