Waymo seeks $16bn funding round at near $110bn valuation

Group 1 - Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving unit, is seeking to raise approximately $16 billion in a financing round that could value the business at nearly $110 billion, with Alphabet contributing around $13 billion and the remainder from external investors [1][2] - The transaction is expected to be finalized this month, following a previous capital raise in October 2024 that valued Waymo at over $45 billion [2] - Waymo currently operates fully autonomous ride-hailing services in several US cities, including the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles, and has plans to expand into additional US markets and the UK [2][3] Group 2 - The company has completed over 20 million trips and emphasizes a focus on safety-led operational excellence and technological leadership to meet the demand for autonomous mobility [3] - Competition in the driverless ride-hailing market is intensifying, with Tesla and Amazon's Zoox also launching their own services [4] - Waymo has recently opened its fully autonomous service to the public in Miami, with nearly 10,000 residents signed up for the service [5]