Alphabet plans Waymo robotaxis for Germany, shares trade lower with megacap tech

By Christina Vogel, Background & Management desk. Reviewed prior to publication on 2026-06-26, 12:32.

Alphabet Inc. (US02079K3059) features in several reports on Friday as its Waymo unit plans a robotaxi expansion into Germany and the shares trade softer on the Nasdaq alongside other large US tech names, according to Reuters and market data. Alphabet is a heavyweight in the NASDAQ-100 and S&P 500, which makes its moves relevant for broad US equity indices.

Waymo targets German robotaxi market

Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car subsidiary, is preparing to expand its robotaxi services to Germany, according to a mid-week report summarised on MarketScreener that cites company statements and media coverage. The report notes that Germany would be one of Waymo’s first full robotaxi deployments in Europe, after existing operations in US cities such as Phoenix and San Francisco, and underlines Alphabet’s ambition to monetise autonomous driving technology over time. MarketScreener’s Alphabet news overview references the planned expansion.

For Alphabet, the Waymo push into Germany connects its long-running investments in autonomous systems with Europe’s tightly regulated mobility market. Germany already has a legal framework for level-4 autonomous vehicles, and any deployment would require coordination with local regulators and cities, which could influence the pace and scale of Waymo’s rollout, according to the same MarketScreener summary of recent news items.

Shares soften with US tech megacaps

Alphabet Class A shares (ticker GOOGL) closed at 343.71 US dollars on Nasdaq on Thursday, down 0.46 percent on the day, according to MarketScreener quote data. Extended trading in the early hours of Friday showed GOOGL at 341.22 dollars, a further 0.72 percent lower, as compiled by MarketBeat from Nasdaq trading data. MarketBeat’s GOOGL news page notes that Alphabet has recently traded lower as investors balance positive index-related sentiment with concerns about its AI business.

Reuters reported that the Nasdaq and S&P 500 ended lower this week as declines in large technology stocks such as Alphabet weighed on US indices, despite upbeat news from other sectors. The Reuters market wrap carried by MarketScreener points to megacap tech weakness as a key factor in the index move, putting Alphabet in the same bracket as other large US technology names when risk appetite moderates.

How Alphabet earns its money

Alphabet generates the majority of its revenue from Google Services, a segment that includes search advertising, YouTube ads and the Google Play store, as detailed in recent company filings. Google Cloud, which provides infrastructure and platform services to enterprises and developers, has grown into a second major revenue pillar and is a focus of expansion, as illustrated by collaborations such as the one with Jack Henry reported this week on MarketScreener. The Economic Times markets page for Alphabet Class A lists communication services as the company’s sector and highlights cloud and advertising as key businesses.

Where the Alphabet shares trade

Alphabet Class A shares (US02079K3059) last closed on Nasdaq at 343.71 US dollars on 2026-06-25 at 16:00 Eastern Time, according to MarketScreener and MarketBeat data, with an extended-hours indication around 341.22 dollars in early trading on 2026-06-26.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell securities. All data are based on sources deemed reliable but cannot be guaranteed. Investors should conduct their own research and, where appropriate, seek professional advice.