Expansion

Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, has secured $16 billion in funding, boosting its valuation to $126 billion. This significant capital will fuel Waymo’s expansion into new U.S. and international markets, including London. The company emphasizes its safety record and aims for global scale, despite recent operational challenges and ongoing investigations into incidents. This funding round saw participation from both existing and new investors.

Waymo is launching its commercial robotaxi service in Miami in 2026, its sixth U.S. market. The service will initially cover 60 square miles, with plans to include Miami International Airport. This expansion follows Waymo’s efforts to improve vehicle safety and reliability after recent incidents. The company aims to grow aggressively, with plans for numerous new markets in 2026 and international expansion. Waymo is also reportedly seeking significant funding to support its expansion and compete with rivals.

Happy Belly Food Group is expanding its Rosie’s Burgers chain with a new Waterloo, Ontario location, the 12th for the brand. This move is supported by a key investor converting a $2 million debenture into shares, strengthening the company’s financial position. With 113 Rosie’s locations in development and a total of 666 committed franchises across its portfolio, Happy Belly is accelerating its growth strategy.

Curaleaf Holdings has opened a new dispensary in Lauderhill, Florida, expanding its retail network to 71 locations in the state and over 160 nationwide. The new store offers a variety of medical cannabis products from Curaleaf’s premium brands. This expansion strengthens Curaleaf’s presence in a key market, emphasizing patient access and product quality.

Allied Gold has started Phase 1 fresh ore processing at its Sadiola mine, aiming to increase annual gold production by 17-30% to 200,000-230,000 ounces by Q1 2026. Further upgrades in 2026 will boost capacity and efficiency, with a Phase 2 expansion planned by 2029 to extend mine life. The company reaffirmed its 2023 production guidance, projecting over 375,000 ounces.

Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, is reportedly in advanced talks for a $15 billion funding round, potentially valuing the company at $110 billion. This capital will fuel fleet expansion and growth across 26 global markets, with ambitions for significant financial contributions to Alphabet by 2027. Waymo aims to more than double its previous funding, supporting its expanding robotaxi services in major US cities and upcoming international launches in London.

Waymo plans manual tests in Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans before potentially launching robotaxi services there in 2026. This expansion follows imminent driverless operations in Texas and Florida. Data from tests will calibrate Waymo’s tech for city-specific conditions. The company emphasizes safety in scaling, currently offering 250,000 weekly paid trips in other cities. Waymo also integrated freeway routes and aims to operate in severe winter weather. Competition is increasing, with Zoox also expanding its robotaxi services.

Chinese robotaxi companies, led by Baidu, are accelerating autonomous driving development and global expansion, outpacing U.S. rivals. Baidu has secured permits for driverless robotaxis and achieved per-vehicle profitability in Wuhan. Strategic partnerships, like those with Uber, are crucial for rapid profitability. While Waymo leads in fleet size, Chinese firms are aggressively expanding overseas, aiming to prove the viability of robotaxis. Safety and scaling deployments remain key challenges for mass adoption and profitability.

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving arm, plans to launch its robotaxi service in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Miami, and Orlando by 2026. This expansion follows successful testing and deployment in other major US cities. Initially, rides will be offered to employees, followed by a public launch. Waymo aims to operate vehicles without human safety drivers and build on its 10 million+ paid ride experience, despite increasing competition in the autonomous vehicle market. The strategic move targets markets with favorable regulations and tech-savvy populations.