In this guide
Short answer: Waymo is owned mostly by Alphabet, the parent company of Google. Outside investors, including Sequoia Capital, Dragoneer and DST Global, hold minority stakes. In February 2026 Waymo raised $16 billion at a $126 billion valuation. It's a private company, so you can't buy Waymo stock directly.
Waymo is the biggest robotaxi company in the US, and people often assume it's "Google's self-driving car". That's almost right. Here's the full picture, and what it means for riders.
Waymo's ownership at a glance
- Majority owner
- Alphabet Inc. (Google's parent)
- Other investors
- Sequoia, Dragoneer, DST Global and others
- Status
- Private; not listed on a stock exchange
- Latest valuation
- $126 billion (Feb 2026)
- Total raised
- About $27 billion
- Started
- 2009, as the Google Self-Driving Car Project
From Google project to Alphabet company
Waymo began in 2009 as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, inside Google's research lab. When Google reorganized under a new parent company, Alphabet, the project became its own company, Waymo, in 2016. Today Waymo and Google are sister companies: both are owned by Alphabet. Waymo is led by co-CEOs Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov.
Outside investors
For years Alphabet paid for Waymo alone. Waymo then opened to outside money in several rounds, raising about $11 billion before 2026. In February 2026 it announced $16 billion in new funding, led by Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global and Sequoia Capital, with Alphabet also taking part. That round valued Waymo at $126 billion, and Alphabet remains the majority shareholder.
Can you buy Waymo stock?
No. Waymo isn't publicly traded, and there's no Waymo ticker. If you want exposure to Waymo, the usual route is Alphabet shares (GOOGL and GOOG), though Waymo is a small part of Alphabet's business compared with Google Search, YouTube and Google Cloud. This isn't investment advice.
Waymo, Uber and Lyft
Uber and Lyft don't own Waymo. They're partners: Uber offers Waymo rides in Austin and Atlanta, and Lyft in Nashville. Waymo sets the rules in the car (pets, food, age), while Uber or Lyft handle the booking and payment. See Waymo on Uber and Lyft.
How big is Waymo?
- Rides: 15 million in 2025, more than triple 2024, and more than 400,000 paid rides a week by early 2026.
- Cities: 15 US metro areas with public service as of October 21, 2026, plus London announced. See Waymo cities.
- Fleet: more than 4,000 vehicles reported in the US, mixing the Jaguar I-PACE and the new Ojai. See what car does Waymo use?
Waymo vs its rivals
| Company | Owner |
|---|---|
| Waymo | Alphabet (majority) plus outside investors |
| Tesla Robotaxi | Tesla, Inc. (public company) |
| Zoox | Amazon (bought in 2020) |
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Waymo?
Alphabet, Google's parent company, is Waymo's majority owner. Outside investors such as Sequoia Capital, Dragoneer and DST Global also own stakes after several funding rounds.
Is Waymo owned by Google?
Indirectly. Waymo began as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009 and became a separate company under Alphabet, which also owns Google. So Waymo and Google are sister companies.
Can I buy Waymo stock?
No. Waymo is a private company and isn't listed on any stock exchange. The closest way to invest is to buy Alphabet shares (GOOGL or GOOG), since Alphabet owns most of Waymo.
How much is Waymo worth?
Its February 2026 funding round of $16 billion valued Waymo at $126 billion.
Is Waymo owned by Uber?
No. Uber is a partner that offers Waymo rides in its app in Austin and Atlanta, but it doesn't own Waymo.
Update log
- Guide published with the February 2026 funding round.
Sources and official texts