Waymo bought Apple’s self-driving car proving ground for $220M

Waymo purchased a 5,500-acre self-driving car proving ground in Arizona from Route 14 Investment Partners LLC for $220 million this week. Route 14 Investment Partners LLC is a Delaware shell company that documents link to Apple. The acquisition took place in Wittmann, Arizona, an area where Waymo already operates other testing facilities. This significant land purchase by Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company owned by Alphabet Inc., underscores its commitment to expanding its testing and development capabilities for its autonomous vehicle technology. The proving ground is expected to facilitate more extensive and complex testing scenarios for Waymo's fleet, potentially accelerating the development and deployment of its driverless services. The transaction was finalized through filings with Maricopa County, detailing the substantial investment in infrastructure for autonomous vehicle research and development. This move positions Waymo to further refine its autonomous driving systems in a controlled and expansive environment, crucial for achieving higher levels of safety and performance in real-world conditions.