Alphabet‑owned Waymo said it aims to surpass one million paid rides per week by the end of 2026, after rapid fleet growth across six U.S. cities and initial plans to expand to London and Tokyo. The goal follows a push to scale robotaxi services and to solidify its lead against competitors in autonomous ride services.
The service reported 15 million rides last year and has passed 20 million lifetime rides after quadrupling trip volumes. (Ed. note: the operation now handles roughly 400,000 paid trips each week.)
Miami was the most recent city launch and the company is preparing for more than 20 additional U.S. cities this year. Co‑chief executive Tekedra Mawakana discussed the expansion and targets in a recent interview.
Tesla remains a visible rival in the autonomous cab market as regulators scrutinize parts of its self‑driving business. Observers often watch Waymo updates for signals about broader robotaxi progress.
Alphabet shares rose after the company announced a multi‑part debt offering to fund AI investments and expansion. The firm said the proceeds support a major AI buildout, targeting roughly $185 billion in AI spending.
In the past week, shares fell about 6 percent after investor Michael Burry warned that issuing a 100‑year bond could spell doom and signal an end to the company’s dominance, a view that prompted some selling.
