News about Waymo

Early Uber investor Jason Calacanis predicts Waymo will buy Lucid Group (LCID) or Rivian Automotive (RIVN), arguing that its reliance on Chinese-made Zeekr vehicles creates cost and reputational problems. He says the arrangement is technically not illegal today, but Waymo would need to pay a tariff of over 100%, and it has drawn national-security concerns on Capitol Hill. According to Semafor, Waymo aims to grow its fleet from about 4,000 vehicles to 8,000 by the end of 2026 and 20,000 by the end of 2027, after closing a $5 billion term loan and a $16 billion equity raise this year. Uber has committed to buying at least 35,000 Lucid vehicles, while its Rivian deal starts with 10,000 autonomous R2 SUVs, with rides expected to begin in 2028. Calacanis, who recently bought small stakes in Lucid, Rivian, WeRide (WRD) and Pony.ai (PONY), expects consolidation in the autonomous-driving sector within 24 months.