Waymo Seeks $16B Funding Round, Valuation Nears $110B

Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving unit, is preparing a funding round of approximately $16 billion, which would value the company at nearly $110 billion upon completion. Alphabet itself will contribute about $13 billion, with the remainder coming from new investors including Sequoia Capital, DST Global, Dragoneer Investment Group, and Mubadala Capital. The round is expected to close in February. This represents a significant valuation increase compared to its previous funding round in October 2024, which valued Waymo at over $45 billion. Currently, Waymo offers fully driverless ride-hailing services in six U.S. cities, including the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, and plans to expand to additional U.S. cities and the UK this year. Amid intensifying competition from rivals like Tesla and Zoox, Waymo emphasized its continued focus on safety, technological leadership, and commercial operations.