Waymo Doubles Lobbying Spend in Robotaxi Push

Alphabet’s Waymo is seeking to turn an early lead in driverless ride-hailing into a large-scale commercial business, but a patchwork of federal, state and city rules remains a major constraint. The company raised $16 billion on Feb. 2, 2026, at a $126 billion valuation, sharpening investor focus on how quickly regulatory approvals can unlock new markets and determine its competitive position against Uber.

Lobbying disclosures showed Waymo roughly doubled its spending in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, targeting Congress, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Waymo is pressing for uniform rules that permit fully driverless services, while Uber favors hybrid networks combining autonomous vehicles with human drivers. The competing positions have turned a commercial partnership into a wider battle over who controls the robotaxi market.