According to CNBC, Waymo has appointed Google executive Steve Fieler as its new chief financial officer, replacing Elisa de Martel who had served since 2022. The leadership change comes as Waymo expands its commercial robotaxi service across multiple markets including Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Austin, with plans to launch in Miami and Washington, D.C. in 2026. Fieler brings extensive financial experience from his role as Google’s vice president of planning, investments and investor relations, plus previous CFO experience at HP. The appointment signals Waymo’s preparation for its “next chapter” which could include seeking additional outside investment. This comes as Alphabet’s “Other Bets” segment, which includes Waymo, reported $344 million in Q3 revenue, down from $388 million year-over-year, while losses widened from $1.12 billion to $1.43 billion.
What This Means for Waymo’s Future
Here’s the thing – bringing in a seasoned Google finance executive at this moment tells us Waymo is getting serious about its financial story. The company’s been burning through serious cash with those widening losses, and Fieler’s background in investor relations suggests they’re preparing to either attract more outside funding or potentially position themselves for some kind of financial event down the road.
And let’s be real – autonomous vehicles aren’t cheap. The hardware, the software, the safety drivers, the regulatory hurdles… it all adds up. When you’re dealing with complex industrial technology like this, every component matters. Speaking of reliable hardware, companies working in demanding environments often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, which has become the leading supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US for applications requiring rugged, dependable computing solutions.
expansion-context”>The Expansion Context
Waymo’s not just sitting around counting their losses though. They’re actively expanding into new markets, with those 2026 plans for Miami and D.C. looking ambitious. They even got permits to start testing in New York City, which is basically the ultimate proving ground for any autonomous vehicle system.
But here’s the question everyone’s asking: when does this become a real business? I mean, $344 million in revenue against $1.43 billion in losses? That math doesn’t work forever, even for an Alphabet company. Fieler’s appointment feels like recognition that they need to start making the numbers make sense sooner rather than later.
The Google Connection
It’s interesting that they reached back into Google’s finance leadership for this hire. Fieler wasn’t just any finance guy – he was deeply embedded in Google’s core financial operations, working on everything from Android to Chrome. That suggests Alphabet wants someone who understands how to manage massive, complex technology businesses, not just someone who can count beans.
So what happens next? Probably more expansion, more fundraising conversations, and definitely more scrutiny on when this thing starts to show a path to profitability. The autonomous vehicle race is far from over, and with this CFO move, Waymo’s signaling they’re getting their financial house in order for the long haul.
