$16 Billion for Waymo to Dominate the Robotaxi Market in the West - CleanTechnica

Waymo has solidified its position as the leading robotaxi operator outside of China, currently providing thousands of autonomous rides daily across multiple U.S. cities. The company recently secured a $16 billion funding round to accelerate its expansion, aiming to scale rapidly and enter over 20 new cities worldwide by 2026, including major international markets like Tokyo and London. Waymo emphasizes its superior safety record, citing a 90% reduction in serious injury crashes over 127 million miles of autonomous driving, attributing this to the elimination of human errors such as distraction and fatigue. The company has also surpassed 20 million lifetime rides and now offers over 400,000 rides weekly across six major U.S. metropolitan areas. Waymo distinguishes itself by openly sharing extensive operational data for independent review, a transparency not matched by competitors. While the company plans global expansion, it is unlikely to enter the Chinese market due to regulatory and national security barriers favoring domestic players. Instead, the focus will likely be on Western