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Waymo’s growth over the past year and a half has been remarkable. The Alphabet-owned self-driving company now offers commercial robotaxi services in six different markets, including major cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, and Miami. Looking ahead, it aims to expand its fleet of driverless taxis to over a dozen new cities internationally, such as London and Tokyo.

With a hefty $16 billion in funding to support its expansion plans, the question arises: is it enough?

Various industry experts have differing opinions on the matter, with responses falling in the spectrum of “sort of” and “it depends.” Alphabet’s commitment to Waymo’s success is evident, as the parent company remains the primary investor, shielding Waymo from the funding uncertainties that have plagued other autonomous vehicle startups. Furthermore, Waymo’s ridership and autonomous miles driven are on an upward trajectory, with the company providing 400,000 rides per week across major U.S. cities and tripling its annual volume to 15 million rides in 2025.

However, despite these positive indicators, challenges lie ahead, particularly in achieving profitability. Waymo must address issues such as cost-efficiency and increasing regulatory scrutiny, as highlighted by the recent testimony of the company’s chief safety officer in a Senate Commerce hearing. To transition from being an operator to a licensor of its AV technology, Waymo may need to relinquish some control, a challenging prospect for a technology still in its early stages.

One point of contention is Waymo’s lack of in-house manufacturing capabilities, unlike Tesla, which could impact its financial leverage and ability to drive down costs at scale. While Waymo has automotive partners, it may face challenges in cost optimization compared to Tesla’s vertically integrated approach.

If you have a different perspective, feel free to share your thoughts by emailing me at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com.

A Closer Look Behind the Scenes

The mysterious investors behind the now-defunct EV startup Canoo were recently unveiled in a lawsuit, shedding light on their connections and activities. Notably, investor David Stern was linked to Prince Andrew and had close ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, pitching investment opportunities in mobility startups like Faraday Future, Lucid Motors, and Canoo. The intricate web of relationships underscores the complexities of the mobility funding landscape.

For more insights and tips, reach out to us at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or sean.okane@techcrunch.com.

Latest Deals in the Mobility Sector

While autonomous vehicle technology remains a focus for major players like Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox, startups are exploring alternative applications for their AV systems in industries such as defense, trucking, mining, and construction. Bedrock Robotics, a Silicon Valley startup founded by industry veterans, secured $270 million in Series B funding to develop a self-driving system for construction equipment retrofits. The influx of capital into practical AI startups signals a growing interest in real-world applications of autonomous technology.

Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Bedrock Robotics’ co-founder and CEO, Boris Sofman.

Notable deals this week include:

• German electric motor maker Additive Drives raised €25 million ($29.5 million) from Nordic Alpha Partners.
• Apeiron Labs, an autonomous underwater vehicles startup, closed a $9.5 million Series A round.
• GoCab, an African mobility fintech startup, raised a $45 million financing round.

Insights and Updates

Recent developments in the mobility sector include China’s ban on concealed electronically actuated door handles in new cars, a move that could impact manufacturers like Tesla. Uber’s strategic appointments, including the promotion of Balaji Krishnamurthy to CFO, reflect the company’s focus on autonomous vehicle partnerships and safety initiatives. Additionally, a high-profile lawsuit against Uber resulted in a mixed verdict, highlighting ongoing challenges in the ride-hailing industry.

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