Home Waymo could be a $70 billion business, says Morgan Stanley

Waymo could be a $70 billion business, says Morgan Stanley

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, announced last December that its self-driving project would have its own division inside the corporation. That division became Waymo, which analysts at Morgan Stanley believe could be worth $70 billion if it is ever spun-out to a standalone company.

The analysis works off the assumption that Waymo cars and software will, someday, account for one percent of all vehicle miles globally and that Waymo will rake in $1.25 per mile traveled. It uses the recent partnership with Lyft as a potential route to commercialization.

See Also: Google’s self-driving division working on competitor to Uber’s self-driving trucks

Waymo has made a few moves in the past year that hint at its route to commercialization and it looks to be through a collaborative effort with automakers and ride-sharing firms. One of these could be Alphabet’s own Waze, the navigation app that recently started a carpooling service.

The valuation estimate is enormous, higher than that of Tesla, Ford, and Uber, valued at $50 billion, $44 billion, and $50 billion respectively. The analysts consider the sophistication of Waymo’s self-driving system to be far ahead of other vendors, which could lead to a stranglehold on the market, similar to Android on mobile.

Waymo path is not yet clear

It is not clear why Alphabet would want to make Waymo a standalone company, other than to avoid potential regulation and legal action. The Internet conglomerate has already swapped most of the original leaders of the project for business figures, like John Krafcik, and doesn’t seem too fussed paying for the legal costs of the Waymo vs Uber lawsuit.

That said, Alphabet has sold some of its companies that are less to do with Internet and unlikely to make a profit in the short term, the most recent being Boston Dynamics sold to Softbank. Waymo could fall into the same camp if Alphabet does not see an easy road to commercialization.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.