Waymo Launches Driverless Robotaxi Tests in Nashville, Plans Lyft Partnership by Year-End

Waymo recently launched autonomous ride-hailing tests in Nashville, Tennessee, removing human safety drivers from its vehicles—a key step toward commercial deployment. The Alphabet-owned company has been conducting tests in the area for several months and plans to launch a self-driving ride-hailing service this year in partnership with Lyft. Initially, users will be able to hail rides through the Waymo app; once the service scales up, they will also be able to book autonomous vehicles via the Lyft app. Lyft will manage the fleet through its wholly owned subsidiary, Flexdrive, handling vehicle preparation, maintenance, charging infrastructure, and depot operations.