Waymo doubles lobbying spend in robotaxi battle with Uber
Original: Waymo doubles spending on lobbying in robotaxi battle with Uber
Why This Matters
Waymo's aggressive lobbying signals that regulatory access, not just technology, is now a key battleground in the autonomous vehicle industry.
Waymo spent over $1 million on federal lobbying between April and June 2026, more than double its outlay a year earlier, as the Alphabet-owned company pushes for a faster federal framework for fully driverless commercial services, intensifying its rivalry with Uber.
Waymo has sharply increased its lobbying expenditure as it competes with Uber over the future of ride-hailing regulation. Federal filings show Waymo spent more than $1 million on federal lobbying in Q2 2026, placing its spending close to Uber's and well ahead of Amazon's Zoox and Tesla. For the first half of 2026, Waymo's total lobbying spend rose 93 percent year-over-year to just over $2 million. In May, it added law firm Greenberg Traurig to its roster of Washington lobbying firms.
The two companies are pushing competing regulatory visions: Waymo advocates a fast-track federal framework for fully driverless services, while Uber supports a staggered rollout alongside human drivers. Analyst Walter Piecyk of LightShed Partners noted the lobbying conflict is 'hastening their divorce,' following reports that Waymo is exploring an exit from its Uber partnership in Austin and Atlanta.
At the state level, Waymo has outspent Uber in New York, investing more than $500,000 after Governor Kathy Hochul walked back proposals to expand autonomous vehicle services statewide. Waymo also reportedly offered a $20 million fund to support displaced drivers. In Washington, DC, it has outspent both Uber and Zoox in local lobbying efforts. Waymo stated it is not pursuing measures to limit competitors or dictate how the technology is deployed.