Alphabet’s autonomous driving arm, Waymo, is increasingly being viewed as a trillion-dollar opportunity that could redefine the future of mobility. While Google dominates search, ads, and cloud services, industry experts argue that its most valuable long-term asset may be its bet on self-driving cars.
Founded in 2009 as Google’s self-driving car project, Waymo has logged millions of autonomous miles in U.S. cities including Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Today, it operates driverless ride-hailing services and is testing applications in freight and logistics. Analysts believe that if Waymo can successfully scale its technology across global urban centres, it could unlock markets worth trillions of dollars, spanning public transport, last-mile delivery, and autonomous trucking.
The race, however, is competitive. Tesla, Cruise, and Chinese firms like Baidu are aggressively expanding their autonomous platforms. But Waymo’s technological edge, backed by Alphabet’s financial muscle and AI expertise, places it in a unique position to lead.
Critics note that regulation, safety concerns, and consumer trust remain significant barriers. Mass adoption will hinge on governments approving autonomous fleets and the public embracing cars without drivers.
Still, with mobility demand projected to soar in the coming decades, Alphabet’s quiet investment in Waymo could emerge as the most transformative—and profitable—chapter in its history.