Stock Prices of Alphabet Inched Up on Wednesday
Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle division, has announced its entry into the Atlanta market, marking its fifth metropolitan area of operation. The launch, in partnership with Uber Technologies, was rolled out in June 2025, and now allows residents in a 65-square-mile area, including Downtown, Buckhead, and Capitol View, to hail fully autonomous, electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles at no additional cost.
The expansion into Atlanta has contributed to Waymo's growing weekly ride count. As of mid-2025, the company is handling over 250,000 trips per week across its multiple city operations, though Atlanta is a new addition this year and was not part of the weekly ride count last year. While precise weekly ride count comparisons specific to Atlanta for this year versus last year are not available, the Atlanta rollout has undoubtedly increased Waymo's nationwide ride count.
The Atlanta launch extends Alphabet's lead over Tesla in the race for autonomous ride-hailing dominance. Tesla launched its Robotaxi brand in Austin this past weekend, but the service is limited to a select group of users. In contrast, Waymo's robotaxis have become common in cities like Los Angeles, ferrying customers around the city.
The expansion into Atlanta is a positive development for Alphabet, as robotaxis aren't yet a major business for the tech giant but show potential to become an important revenue generator sooner than expected. Alphabet aims to continue this momentum, with plans to roll out Waymo in Washington, D.C., and Miami next year.
The news of Waymo's success has positively impacted Alphabet's stock, with both share classes advancing on Hump Day. The growth in Waymo's operations, coupled with positive word-of-mouth, has boosted the company's popularity.
As Waymo continues to expand its footprint across the United States, it is poised to revolutionise the transportation industry and redefine the way we travel. With its commitment to safety, sustainability, and innovation, Waymo is set to lead the way in autonomous ride-hailing services.
Waymo's entry into the Atlanta market, through its collaboration with Uber Technologies, has increased its weekly ride count significantly, now handling over 250,000 trips per week. This expansion has helped Alphabet gain an advantage over Tesla in the autonomous ride-hailing industry, as Waymo robotaxis have become more prominent compared to Tesla's limited service in Austin.
The success of Waymo's expansion into Atlanta has positively affected Alphabet's stock, with both share classes advancing on Hump Day. As Waymo continues to grow, it aims to expand further, with plans to roll out services in Washington, D.C., and Miami next year.
With its commitment to safety, sustainability, and innovation, Waymo is poised to revolutionize the transportation industry and redefine the way we travel. Beyond transportation, Waymo's autonomous technology could potentially be extended to other industries, such as finance, finance, and automotive gadgets, through investments and collaborations in technology.
