CALIFORNIA: Waymo, Alphabet Inc’s autonomous driving unit, is aiming to raise about US$16bil in a financing round that would value the unit at nearly US$110bil, according to sources.
The parent company would provide about US$13bil to the robotaxi firm, while the rest would come from others, including new investors Sequoia Capital, DST Global and Dragoneer Investment Group, said the sources. The prior investment round, in October 2024, valued the company above US$45bil and was led by Alphabet, which also owns Google.
“While we don’t comment on private financial matters, our trajectory is clear: With over 20 million trips completed, we are focused on the safety-led operational excellence and technological leadership required to meet the vast demand for autonomous mobility,” Waymo said in a statement.
Google could not immediately be reached for comment. Bloomberg reported in December that Waymo was seeking to raise US$15bil at a more than US$100bil valuation. — Bloomberg
