Waymo announced the completion of an over-supplied Series C funding round, raising $5.6 billion to improve its ” Waymo Driver ” technology. This new investment is led by Alphabet and backed by major investment funds such as Andreessen Horowitz , Fidelity , Perry Creek , Silver Lake , Tiger Global and others.
“Waymo Drive” and its advancement in autonomous vehicles
This year, Waymo has increased its service areas in cities such as San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles, and will soon extend its presence to Austin and Atlanta, due to its strategic alliance with Uber , projecting the start of operations in the middle of the first quarter of 2025.
In addition to expanding its service, the company is working on the continued development of Waymo Driver , its advanced autonomous driving system, with the aim of adapting this technology to multiple commercial applications. According to Chase Coleman, founder of Tiger Global , “ Customers love Waymo. The company has created the safest and best product in the autonomous vehicle ecosystem. ”.
Waymo’s experience in the robotaxi market was recently showcased and awarded the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award 2023 , a recognition that reaffirms its commitment to autonomous, safe and reliable technology.
Meanwhile, other companies are still seeking multi-million dollar investments, such as WeRide , a Chinese autonomous vehicle company, which raised $440.5 million in its initial public offering in the United States and is conducting tests in 30 cities in seven countries.
Waymo Driver’s sixth-generation technology
Waymo’s work has enabled it to offer more than 100,000 weekly rides, representing a 10-fold increase compared to last year. In addition, the company highlights its commitment to creating more accessible experiences for users, such as the pick-up service at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix.
Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban said: “Waymo has been working for years to bring the endless possibilities of AI to the world of physical transportation ,” emphasizing that Waymo Driver technology has earned the public’s trust by providing safety on roads and highways.
To meet the growing demand for its service, Waymo has recently launched the sixth generation of Waymo Driver , a platform optimized in terms of costs and capabilities. This development is equipped with a set of high-tech sensors , “from 13 cameras, 4 lidar units, 6 radars and multiple external audio receivers “. The system allows a complete view of the place up to 500 meters away, day and night and in different weather conditions.
This technology is being implemented in Geely’s Zeekr vehicles and Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 , both fully electric, reaffirming Waymo’s strategic alliances with these major automobile manufacturers in the market.
Waymo Driver technology in development. Source: Waymo
Waymo has also launched a “ Safety Impact Center ” to foster transparency, providing detailed information on “ how its autonomous system ” improves road safety. This center complements the company’s regular reporting on its safety record, reflecting its commitment to the cities in which its services operate.
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Source and photo: Waymo
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