Waymo to launch a robotaxi service in Nashville in 2026

Waymo is bringing its robotaxis to Music City, USA.

The Alphabet-owned institution plans connected launching its robotaxi work successful Nashville successful 2026. Customers volition beryllium capable to hail a thrust initially done the Waymo One app, and past aboriginal done the Lyft app. Lyft volition besides grip fleet services, specified arsenic cleaning, maintenance, and EV charging.

Waymo arrived successful Nashville earlier this year arsenic portion of its annual “road trip,” successful which the institution operates its vehicles manually successful assorted cities to cod information connected varying upwind conditions and determination driving habits. Waymo says it volition displacement into autonomous investigating aboriginal this year, followed by the motorboat of a commercialized robotaxi work successful 2026.

The concern with Lyft is an absorbing wrinkle to this news. The 2 companies worked unneurotic concisely successful Phoenix successful 2019. Lyft customers were capable to hail rides successful Waymo vehicles for a abbreviated period. Waymo past shifted to teaming up with Uber arsenic its ridehail level of prime successful 2 cities: Austin and Atlanta. Today’s quality signals that Lyft is inactive successful moving for aboriginal collaborations.

Lyft says it volition usage its Flexdrive system, which provides “end-to-end fleet management, including conveyance maintenance, infrastructure, and depot operations,” to negociate of Waymo’s robotaxis successful Nashville. And the ridehail institution volition physique a fleet absorption installation successful Nashville for Waymo’s robotaxis, including EV charging.

In summation to Nashville, Waymo has said it volition motorboat commercialized operations successful Washington, DC, Miami, Denver, Seattle, Dallas, and New York City.