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Waymo Launches Public Driverless Robotaxi Service in Nashville

The invite-only rollout signals a careful push to scale robotaxis using local partners after a $16 billion raise.

Overview

  • Waymo opened the service to the public Tuesday inside a 60-square-mile area of Nashville using dozens of vehicles through the Waymo app.
  • Rolling invites will add riders over time, which Waymo says helps it scale while keeping ride quality consistent.
  • Lyft is the local partner, with its Flexdrive unit running vehicle readiness, charging, maintenance, and depot operations.
  • Riders will be able to hail these cars in the Lyft app later this year, and Waymo says airport trips are planned in the near future.
  • Nashville becomes Waymo’s 11th robotaxi city, following February’s $16 billion funding round and plans to expand to more than 20 additional U.S. cities in 2026.