Waymo raises $16B to scale robotaxi fleet internationally

Core Insights - Waymo has raised $16 billion to expand its fleet of driverless taxicabs internationally, targeting over a dozen new cities including London and Tokyo, with a current valuation of $126 billion [1][2] Funding and Investment - The funding round was led by Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global, and Sequoia Capital, with significant contributions from Andreessen Horowitz, Mubadala Capital, and others [1][2] Growth and Expansion - The funds will be utilized to accelerate growth, which has already seen a significant increase, with 400,000 rides provided weekly across six major U.S. metropolitan areas [3][6] - Waymo has expanded its robotaxi service to major cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Miami, and plans to operate in over 20 additional cities by 2026 [5][9] Operational Milestones - Waymo's robotaxi service in California began charging for rides after receiving the necessary permit in August 2023, marking a significant operational milestone [5] - The company has reported tripling its annual ride volume to 15 million rides in 2025, surpassing 20 million lifetime rides [6] Challenges and Scrutiny - The rapid expansion has led to increased scrutiny, with investigations opened by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board due to incidents involving robotaxis, including a recent case where a child was struck [9][10]