San Francisco: Alphabet Inc.’s autonomous driving subsidiary Waymo is reportedly in talks to raise around $16 billion in new funding, a move that could push its valuation close to $110 billion, according to a Bloomberg News report cited by Reuters. If completed, the financing round would rank among the largest ever in the autonomous vehicle industry, highlighting renewed investor confidence in self-driving technology.
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the discussions are still ongoing and details could change. Neither Waymo nor its parent company Alphabet has officially commented on the report. Nevertheless, the scale of the potential funding underscores Waymo’s position as a global leader in autonomous mobility and signals strong belief in the long-term commercial viability of robotaxi services.
Waymo, which began as Google’s self-driving car project before being spun out as a separate unit under Alphabet, has steadily expanded its operations in recent years. The company currently runs commercial, driverless ride-hailing services in several U.S. cities, including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. It has logged millions of autonomous miles and continues to scale its fleet while refining its technology.
The reported valuation would mark a significant jump from Waymo’s previous funding round in late 2024, when the company was valued at about $45 billion. Analysts attribute the sharp rise to progress in real-world deployments, growing public acceptance of autonomous rides, and Waymo’s technological lead over rivals in safety performance and operational readiness.
Industry observers say the fresh capital would likely be used to expand robotaxi services, invest in next-generation autonomous systems, and support international growth plans. Waymo has previously signaled interest in expanding beyond the United States, a move that would require substantial investment in regulatory compliance, infrastructure, and vehicle production.
The autonomous driving sector has seen intense competition, with players such as Tesla, Amazon-backed Zoox, and traditional automakers racing to commercialize self-driving solutions. Against this backdrop, Waymo’s reported fundraising effort is viewed as a strategic step to cement its dominance and accelerate deployment before competitors can close the gap.
While challenges remain including regulatory hurdles, high operational costs, and the path to profitability the reported funding talks suggest that investors remain optimistic about Waymo’s long-term prospects. If the deal materializes, it could reshape the competitive landscape of autonomous mobility and reinforce Waymo’s role at the forefront of the driverless transportation revolution.