Waymo
7/10Commercial / operating robotaxi service (deploying in multiple U.S. cities).Corporate-funded subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.; no traditional VC round history as an independent company.Mountain View, California, U.S.
Description
Develops autonomous driving software and hardware and operates a robotaxi service (originally the Google self-driving car project; now an Alphabet subsidiary).
Why in News
Waymo announced its robotaxis are now allowed to use freeways in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix, an expansion the company says can cut ride times by as much as ~50%.
Founders
Spun out of Google’s self-driving car project (project early leaders included Sebastian Thrun and Chris Urmson); established as Waymo in 2016 under Alphabet.
Published
January 20, 2026
Website
https://waymo.comAnalysis
Article is about Waymo, a company built around AI-driven autonomous vehicles (robotaxis). Highly AI-related, but Waymo is an established Alphabet-backed company rather than an early-stage startup.