Waymo Jacks Up Lobbying In Washington, DC

Waymo is increasing its lobbying efforts in Washington, DC, as the company seeks to expand its robotaxi service ahead of a pending city council bill. Reporting cited by Axios says Waymo leased a third location in D.C., though rollout still depends on legislation. The company aims to show skeptical council members it is ready to invest locally and address concerns about job losses. Waymo’s policy chief Matt Walsh said the new site will support EV charging and vehicle maintenance, and highlighted a separate 32,000-square-foot facility under construction in Northeast. The planned fleet scale is constrained: the city council bill would allow only 200 robotaxis, while Waymo estimates more than 3,000 ride-hailing vehicles already operate in the city. If approved, service would not start until 2028.