Lyft launches Waymo robotaxi service in Nashville through its app

Waymo robotaxis are now available to Lyft users in Nashville, marking Lyft's first true entry into commercial driverless ride-hailing. Riders can request a Waymo vehicle through the Lyft app, with matching depending on availability, alongside the existing option to hail directly from the Waymo app.

Under the partnership, Lyft is responsible for fleet services including vehicle readiness, maintenance, infrastructure, and depot operations, handled through its wholly owned subsidiary Flexdrive.

Lyft has previously explored autonomous vehicles through partnerships with Aptiv (now Motional) in Las Vegas, May Mobility in Atlanta, Baidu in London, and Waymo in Phoenix. However, this launch represents the first time Lyft has offered commercial robotaxi service using fully driverless vehicles. The company once developed its own self-driving technology under its Level 5 division, which it sold to Toyota's Woven Planet for $550 million in 2021.

Jeremy Bird, Lyft's executive vice president of growth, said Lyft entered 2026 focused on its Waymo partnership in Nashville and Baidu partnership in London, where commercial service has not yet launched. He expects more expansion in 2027, and said AV readiness and regulatory openness would factor into Lyft's decisions on new markets as it continues to look beyond the U.S.