Waymo doubles spending on lobbying in robotaxi battle with Uber
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Waymo has more than doubled its federal lobbying spending, exceeding $1 million in the second quarter of 2026, putting it near Uber's level and ahead of other rivals. The Alphabet-owned company is pushing for a federal framework to accelerate fully driverless taxi services, while Uber advocates a phased rollout alongside human drivers. Their conflicting approaches have strained their relationship, with Waymo reportedly considering ending its Uber partnership in Austin and Atlanta. Both firms have intensified lobbying in Washington and several states after encountering resistance in places like New York and Chicago. Waymo's total spending in the first half of 2026 rose 93 percent to over $2 million, and it hired lobbyists to support its efforts. In New York, where the governor scaled back autonomous vehicle proposals, Waymo offered a $20 million fund to assist affected drivers. Uber, which has invested heavily in AVs through deals, argues for hybrid networks and has faced accusations of seeking regulatory protection, though it denies trying to slow autonomous vehicle deployment.
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