Waymo has secured a funding round from major investors such as Alphabet and Sequoia capital to expand its ride hailing services. Originally launched in 2009 as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, the company has transitioned from a specialized research initiative into a commercial ride-hailing powerhouse. Its proprietary software and hardware suite known as the Waymo Driver uses an advanced array of Lidar, cameras and radar to navigate intricate streets autonomously. Waymo currently operates autonomous taxi services in several major US cities and is focusing on scaling AI in the physical world to create a safer and more reliable transport system.

Waymo is transitioning from research to reality. The proof is that autonomous driving is no longer just a concept but a commercial scalable business. Waymo claims that its autonomous vehicles have stellar safety records. Over 127 million miles of autonomous driving, their Waymo Driver system has achieved a 90% reduction in serious injury crashes as compared to human drivers as AI is immune to distraction and fatigue.

In 2025, Waymo tripled its annual volume to 15 million rides. They currently provide over 400000 rides in major US cities. With this new capital, Waymo plans to expand its operations in more than 20 cities across the globe, including Tokyo and London.

Waymo’s compounding data advantage has allowed it to surpass its competitors in terms of operational excellence. The company aims to use the funding to accelerate its velocity of rolling out its services to cater to what they call an “exploding global demand” for autonomous mobility while maintaining stringent safety standards.