Waymo Sues Uber, Otto, Alleging Stolen Autonomous Technology
Alphabet’s self-driving car unit Waymo is suing Uber and its Otto autonomous trucking subsidiary for stealing the company’s autonomous vehicle sensor technology. Alphabet is also the parent company of Google.

Waymo self-driving car prototype. Photo via Waymo.com

Waymo self-driving car prototype. Photo via Waymo.com
Alphabet’s self-driving car unit Waymo is suing Uber and its Otto autonomous trucking subsidiary for stealing the company’s autonomous vehicle sensor technology. Alphabet is also the parent company of Google.
In court documents, Waymo accuses Otto and Uber of taking the company’s intellectual property in order to avoid the risk, time, and expense of independently developing the technology on its own.
Waymo’s case centers around its custom-built Lidar (light detection and ranging) sensor technology. The sensors allow a vehicle to see a 3D picture of the world around it to detect and measure the shape, speed, and movement of obstacles. Not simply accusing Uber and Otto of copying the technology, Waymo’s was given a tip that Otto’s LIDAR design bore a striking resemblance to its own.
In its own investigation, Waymo found evidence that former employee and current Otto co-founder Anthony Levandowski downloaded over 14,000 confidential and proprietary design files for Waymo’s hardware systems, according to a blog post from the company. These files included blueprints, design files and testing documentation totaling 9.7 GB of data.
Waymo accuses Levandowski of using specialized software installed onto his company laptop to achieve this. The company said that after he transferred the information to an external hard drive, he wiped and reformatted his laptop in an attempt to erase evidence.
“We believe these actions were part of a concerted plan to steal Waymo’s trade secrets and intellectual property,” the company stated in its blog post.
Waymo said that it has devoted seven years to research and development for the technology, building up more than 1.5 million miles of self-driving experience on public roads and even more than that in simulations.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Safety & Compliance

Navigating the Effects of Daylight Saving Time on Work Truck Fleets
Discover how daylight saving time impacts work truck fleets and get essential tips for fleet managers and drivers to navigate the "fall back" transition.
Read More →
How Halloween Changes the Job for Work Truck Drivers
Truck traffic doesn’t take the same Halloween break as other drivers. What fleet managers should know about timing, neighborhood stops, and braking data.
Read More →
Tips for Driving Safely on Halloween Night
This video features a reminder from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, urging drivers to prioritize safety this Halloween.
Read More →From Our Partners

Re-rating Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWR): Why and How it's Done
Sometimes, it is not in a fleet’s best interests to have a vehicle at a given GVWR. Changing the GVWR to a special value can be done, but the process is complicated.
Read More →
When a Work Truck Gets Stolen, the Real Loss Is Time
A stolen work truck can take more than a vehicle off the road. From tools and access cards to crew downtime, here’s how fleets can prepare for theft before it disrupts the entire workday.
Read More →
Volvo Trucks Marks 25 Years as Exclusive Sponsor of America's Road Team
Volvo Trucks North America will serve as the exclusive sponsor of the American Trucking Associations' America's Road Team, marking 25 years of Volvo sponsorship. The group of professional drivers promotes safety and the industry as they travel the country.
Read More →
Streamlight’s High-Output Scene Light Recognized with Occupational Safety Award
Streamlight’s Portable Scene Light III (PSL III) won the 2026 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) New Product of the Year Award in the Lighting category.
Read More →
Fleetworthy Expands Expedited Inspection to 5 States
Following its industry-first launch in Nevada, Fleetworthy’s automated inspection technology is now live in California, Michigan, Vermont, and Maine.
Read More →
Crossing State Lines in a Light-Duty Work Truck? Check These Rules First
Crossing state lines in a lighter work truck? J.J. Keller's Kathy Close explains when IRP registration, trip permits, and towing rules come into play.
Read More →
Simple Tire Checks That Help Keep Your Business Fleet Moving
A survey found that nearly one in every 10 passenger vehicles has at least one bald tire. What's more, 27% -- more than one in four -- of vehicles are driven with one or more severely under-inflated tires.
Read More →



