Waymo Secures $16B in Funding to Propel Robotaxi Services into Global Markets
On February 2, 2026, Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary, Waymo, made a groundbreaking announcement. The company has successfully raised a staggering $16 billion in new funding, setting a new record for the highest investment ever in an autonomous vehicle company. This funding round, valuing Waymo at $126 billion, was spearheaded by Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global, and Sequoia Capital. Other significant contributors included Andreessen Horowitz, Mubadala Capital, Fidelity, among other prominent investors.
This investment signifies more than a double increase from Waymo’s previous valuation of $45 billion from its Series C round in October 2024. The company has ambitious plans for this capital. Their primary goal is to extend their robotaxi service to over 20 new cities in 2026. This expansion will also mark Waymo’s debut in international markets, with London and Tokyo being the first on the list. As of now, Waymo operates in six U.S. metropolitan areas: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Atlanta, and Miami.
Waymo’s co-CEOs, Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov, expressed their excitement about the company’s progress. In 2025, the company served 15 million trips and is now transitioning from “proving a concept” to “scaling a commercial reality“. Currently, Waymo operates more than 2,500 robotaxis and stands as the sole provider of fully driverless paid ride-hailing services at scale in the United States.
Despite the promising expansion, Waymo has not been without its challenges. The company has faced increased scrutiny, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigating incidents involving Waymo vehicles near schools.
Source: CNBC