<div id="readability-page-1"><p>Alphabet's (GOOGL) autonomous driving unit Waymo is reportedly seeking to raise up to $15 billion in 2026. The funding will come from parent Alphabet and outside investors at a valuation of roughly $110 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter.</p><h3>Claim 50% Off TipRanks Premium and Invest with Confidence </h3><ul><li>Unlock  hedge-fund level data  and  powerful investing tools  designed to help you make smarter, sharper decisions  </li><li> Stay ahead of the market with  the latest news and analysis  so your portfolio is always positioned for maximum potential</li></ul> <p>Waymo currently leads the robotaxi market, facing competition from Tesla (TSLA) and Zoox (AMZN), which recently launched robotaxi services. Meanwhile, it vies for market share with traditional ride-hailing service providers like Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT).</p> <h2><strong>Why Is Waymo Raising Funds?</strong></h2> <p>The funding could be used to expand its fleet, launch services in new areas, or support testing its autonomous vehicles (AVs) in additional U.S. and overseas markets. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has stated that Waymo could start adding meaningfully to the parent's financials by 2027.  </p> <p>The new funding round would more than double Waymo's last raise in October 2024. The company raised $5.6 billion in a Series C round, valuing it at $45 billion. At the time, Alphabet committed $5 billion, alongside investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, Silver Lake, and Tiger Global.</p> <h2><strong>Waymo Is Expanding Rapidly</strong></h2> <p>Waymo has strategically expanded its paid robotaxi services to five key U.S. markets: Austin, the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. It plans to launch services next year in 11 new U.S. cities, such as Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. The company also announced it will bring its robotaxi service to London in 2026, marking its first international market.</p> <p><em>CNBC</em> reported in early December that Waymo achieved approximately 450,000 weekly paid rides, signaling strong demand and ridership momentum. Additionally, its December update showed 14 million trips completed in 2025 so far, projecting a cumulative total exceeding 20 million since its 2020 debut.</p> <p>These figures signal strong demand, though frequent accidents highlight ongoing concerns about fully driverless robotaxis.</p> <h2><strong>Is GOOGL Stock a Buy?</strong></h2> <p>Analysts remain highly optimistic about Alphabet's long-term prospects, thanks to its well-established Google Search business, rapidly scaling cloud computing unit, and emerging robotaxi business.</p> <p>On TipRanks, Alphabet stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 29 Buys and seven Hold ratings. The average Alphabet price target of $323.73 implies 5.6% upside potential from current levels. Year-to-date, GOOGL stock has surged over 62%.</p></div>

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<p>Alphabet's Waymo aims to raise $15 billion by 2026, targeting a $110 billion valuation to expand its autonomous driving services. The funding will support fleet expansion and international market entry, including London by 2026. Waymo leads the robotaxi market, competing with Tesla and Zoox, and plans to launch services in 11 new U.S. cities next year. Analysts are optimistic about Alphabet's growth, with a Strong Buy consensus for its stock, which has surged over 62% year-to-date.</p>

- Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving unit, aims to raise up to $15 billion in 2026, valuing the company at approximately $110 billion.  
- The funding will facilitate expansion of its fleet and testing of autonomous vehicles, with services expected to grow in key U.S. markets and London by 2026.  
- Waymo currently leads the robotaxi market, achieving around 450,000 weekly paid rides, though concerns about safety persist amidst a competitive landscape.

Alphabet's Waymo Guns for $110B Valuation – $15B Raise to Crush Tesla, Zoox