Waymo reportedly targets 20,000 vehicles by 2027

Waymo is reportedly planning to expand its driverless-vehicle fleet from about 4,000 cars to 20,000 by the end of 2027, a fivefold increase that would make its ride-hailing operations substantially larger. The targets were reported by Semafor, citing people familiar with the plans, and have not been confirmed by the company in the supplied reports. The reported plan calls for Waymo to reach 8,000 vehicles by the end of 2026, then add another 12,000 by the end of 2027. Waymo declined to comment to Semafor, according to one report. The figures describe intended targets, not completed fleet growth. Waymo has said a $5 billion debt financing secured earlier in October would help expand its driverless ride-hailing service in the United States and internationally. The financing is one source of capital identified alongside the reported expansion plans, though the company has not publicly tied the specific fleet targets to the funds. A significant part of the reported growth is expected to involve Ojai robotaxis, which are based on electric vehicles made by Zeekr. Waymo installs its autonomous-driving technology on the vehicles at a facility in Mesa, Arizona, according to reports. A...