From a pizza delivery stunt to a $126 billion autonomous driving empire
Waymo began as a clandestine project born from DARPA challenges and a pizza-delivering robotaxi. Today, it is a subsidiary of Alphabet, operating thousands of robotaxis across the United States. With billions in funding and millions of miles logged, it stands as a dominant force in the race toward autonomous mobility.
Waymo’s journey began in January 2009 within Google’s X lab, building on the legacy of the Stanford University Racing Team. The project’s early days were marked by rapid iteration, including the 2010 public reveal and the 2016 rebranding as Waymo under Alphabet. The company’s technical foundation relied on proprietary lidar and AI software, which became the subject of a high-profile legal battle with Uber in 2017. That dispute, centered on allegations of trade secret theft by former employee Anthony Levandowski, concluded with a settlement that saw Waymo receive 0.34% of Uber stock.
The company has aggressively pursued regulatory approval, lobbying states and the federal government to standardize autonomous vehicle deployment. By February 2026, Waymo achieved a valuation of $126 billion following a $16 billion funding round, with $13 billion contributed by Alphabet. This capital supports a massive operational footprint: as of June 2026, Waymo manages 3,871 robotaxis across 10 metropolitan areas, facilitating 500,000 paid rides weekly. The company has logged 200 million fully autonomous miles, positioning itself as a leader in the sector.
Despite its growth, Waymo faces scrutiny. In January 2026, the NTSB and NHTSA launched investigations into the company’s robotaxis following reports of illegal passes near school buses and a collision involving a child in a school zone. Furthermore, the company has shifted its strategic focus over time; while it once explored trucking and logistics, it abandoned those efforts by 2023 to concentrate on its robotaxi service. As it looks toward international expansion, Waymo continues to advocate for reduced regulations, warning that restrictive policies could cede the global market to competitors.
Source: Waymo
