Waymo and Lyft Team Up to Launch Robotaxi Rides in Nashville

Ride-sharing platform Lyft and self-driving vehicle developer Waymo plan to bring an autonomous ride-hailing service to Nashville next year, company officials announced.The new market also represents the first partnership between Lyft and the Google-affiliated autonomous vehicle company.

Lyft to Build a Driverless Vehicle Hub

Under the agreement, Lyft's Flexdrive fleet management subsidiary will operate a Waymo fleet of autonomous electric vehicles in Tennessee's capital, from infrastructure and depot operations to vehicle maintenance.Officials said that Lyft will build a new management facility with both service and charging capabilities.

Maximizing the Waymo Fleet

Riders in Nashville will initially use Waymo's app to order driverless rides; the service will be added to Lyft's network later in the year. Company officials said that providing rides on both Waymo and Lyft would help maximize utilization of the overall fleet.

Rapid Expansion

Waymo previously partnered with ride-hailing counterpart Uber on robotaxi services in Atlanta and Austin, Texas.Waymo operates its own driverless services in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. In addition to Nashville, it reportedly plans to expand to Dallas, Denver, Miami, and Washington, D.C.

Image credit: Lyft

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