No, Waymo is not directly owned by Google. Both Waymo and Google are distinct subsidiaries operating under the same parent company, Alphabet Inc.
The Relationship Between Waymo, Google, and Alphabet Inc.
Waymo originated as the Google Self-Driving Car Project. In 2015, Google underwent a major corporate restructuring, leading to the creation of Alphabet Inc. This new holding company was established to oversee Google and its various other ventures, allowing each to operate more independently while still being under a unified corporate umbrella.
Under this new structure:
- Google LLC became a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., encompassing its core search, advertising, Android, and YouTube businesses.
- Waymo LLC was spun out as a separate entity and also became a direct subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. This means Waymo operates alongside Google as a "sister company" rather than being owned by Google itself.
Understanding the Corporate Structure
The relationship can be visualized as follows:
Parent Company | Subsidiaries |
---|---|
Alphabet Inc. | Google LLC |
Waymo LLC | |
Other "Other Bets" companies |
This organizational model allows Alphabet Inc. to manage a diverse portfolio of companies, including those focused on autonomous driving technology like Waymo, separately from its core Google businesses.
Key Takeaways
- Waymo began as an initiative within Google.
- Alphabet Inc. is the ultimate parent company that owns both Google and Waymo.
- Waymo and Google operate as independent entities under Alphabet, not as direct owner-subsidiary.