Waymo targets 1 million paid weekly robotaxi rides in US by 2026

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit, aims to exceed 1 million paid weekly robotaxi rides in the US by the end of 2026, according to co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana.

The company reported a 4x rise in trips in 2025 and plans to expand testing and launch new services in 20 US and international cities this year.

Waymo recently began fully autonomous operations in Nashville and expects to start service later in 2026 in Washington, Detroit, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Denver.

The company raised US$16 billion in a funding round led by Sequoia Capital, DST Global, and Dragoneer, with Alphabet contributing US$13 billion.

Waymo currently provides about 400,000 paid rides weekly across six US cities.

The company is working to improve cost efficiency while expanding its fleet, which includes Jaguar I-Pace and Hyundai electric vehicles.

Safety investigations continue following incidents involving Waymo vehicles near Santa Monica and Austin.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Waymo’s new valuation tracks growth, though costs stay high

A new US$16 billion funding round values Waymo at US$126 billion, up from US$45 billion in 2024 1.
That lead lets Waymo charge more. A San Francisco study puts its median ride at US$17.25, above Uber at US$14.94 and Lyft at US$12.99 2.
Those higher fares may help cover heavier day to day spending. One analysis estimates Waymo per vehicle costs run two to three times Teslas 2.

Waymo’s expansion could shift money flows for cities and partners

Moves into more cities could shift local income. Human rideshare drivers often keep roughly 60 to 70% of a fare in the area 3.
Partner stocks could also react. One analysis says Uber investor sentiment partly depends on Waymo choices in markets where both operate 3.
Waymo says it plans ride hailing in over 20 more cities in 2026, including Tokyo and London 4. It also faces federal investigations after incidents near Santa Monica and probes tied to Waymo vehicles passing stopped school buses in Austin 4.