Waymo News: Latest Releases & Events
Waymo bought Apple's former Arizona proving ground for $220 million in June 2026 to validate robotaxis from its Mesa factory. In April, autonomous testing began on London streets with safety operators, after a $16 billion raise in February at a $126 billion valuation. In November 2025, robotaxis began carrying paying riders on freeways in Phoenix, Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
All 5 Waymo entries of the AI News timeline, newest first.
2026
June 2026
2026-06-09
- Waymo Acquires Apple's Abandoned Self-Driving Test Ground for $220M
Waymo purchased a large Arizona proving ground in Wittmann from Apple for $220 million, acquiring a facility originally built for Apple's canceled Project Titan self-driving car program. The site includes a 115-acre city course, a 35-acre dynamics area, and a four-mile oval track, and will be used to validate robotaxis assembled at Waymo's nearby Mesa factory. (aibusiness.com)
Apple
April 2026
2026-04-15
- Waymo begins autonomous testing on London streets
Waymo has shifted its London operations into a new phase where its self-driving software is now actively handling driving on city streets, with trained safety operators ready to intervene. The move marks a significant step toward a potential commercial robotaxi launch in one of the world's most challenging urban driving environments. (go.theregister.com)
February 2026
2026-02-06
- Waymo creates world model using Genie 3
Waymo introduced the Waymo World Model, powered by Google DeepMind's Genie 3, to generate hyper-realistic simulations of rare driving scenarios. The model creates synchronized 2D video and 3D lidar data, allowing the AI to train on dangerous or impossible conditions without real-world risks. (arstechnica.com)
Google
2026-02-05
- Waymo raises $16B at $126B valuation
Waymo secured a $16 billion funding round led by Alphabet, raising its valuation to $126 billion to fuel its expansion into new US and international markets. (aibusiness.com)
Google
2025
November 2025
2025-11-12
- Waymo enables freeway service for robotaxis
Waymo now lets its autonomous vehicles use freeways for paying customers in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area, a smart upgrade that speeds up trips across vast urban landscapes. This positions the service as a credible challenger to rideshare leaders. (understandingai.org)