Waymo nearly doubles federal lobbying spending as it pushes for robotaxi rollout

Waymo, the Alphabet-owned robotaxi operator, sharply increased its federal lobbying spending in the first half of 2026 as it seeks to persuade U.S. regulators to clear a path for fully autonomous taxi services. The company spent slightly more than $2 million between January and June, a 93 percent increase from the same period in 2025, according to federal lobbying disclosures. This outlay put Waymo’s spending close to rival Uber and ahead of other competitors such as Amazon’s Zoox and Tesla.

Waymo’s lobbying push coincides with its efforts to shape regulatory frameworks at the federal and state levels. In May, the company hired the law firm Greenberg Traurig to lobby on its behalf, adding to a roster of Washington firms already representing its interests. Waymo has also engaged local lobbying campaigns, including in the District of Columbia, where it has outspent Uber and Zoox to press local regulators to allow robotaxi services. In New York state, Waymo has spent more than half a million dollars so far in 2026—more than double Uber’s lobbying spend—as it seeks entry into one of the largest taxi markets in the U.S.

The company’s advocacy includes proposing a $20 million fund to support drivers affected by the deployment of autonomous vehicles in New York, according to people familiar with the matter. Waymo has stated it is not pursuing measures that would limit competitors or prescribe how the technology is deployed, instead advocating for the rollout of autonomous vehicles.

Uber, which abandoned its in-house self-driving effort in 2020, has committed more than $10 billion over the past year through equity stakes and robotaxi fleet agreements. The ride-hailing group is lobbying for so-called hybrid networks that route rides to both human drivers and autonomous vehicles during a transition period. In New Jersey, Uber lobbyists have proposed that any platform offering robotaxi services also use human drivers for at least 85 percent of all rides during a three-year pilot program.

Analysts say the diverging strategies of Waymo and Uber—one pushing for faster deployment of fully driverless services and the other advocating for a phased rollout—have contributed to tensions between the companies. The Financial Times reported in July that Waymo was exploring options to exit its Uber partnership in Austin and Atlanta, where Uber operates its services.

Critics have accused Uber of attempting to slow the deployment of autonomous vehicles by advocating for hybrid networks, a claim the company denies. Uber has said it supports autonomous vehicle deployment and that hybrid networks are intended to give policymakers a practical framework to manage the transition while getting the technology to consumers sooner.