# Waymo Launches Fully Autonomous Taxi Service in Nashville
Waymo has officially launched fully autonomous vehicle operations in Nashville, Tennessee, marking a major milestone in the company's expansion of driverless ride-hailing services across the United States[2]. The Alphabet-owned robotaxi leader is now operating self-driving taxis in the Music City after more than a year of extensive testing with safety drivers, with public rides set to become available through both the Waymo and Lyft apps[1][3].
Partnership with Lyft Brings Driverless Rides to Tennessee
Waymo's Nashville launch represents a strategic partnership with ride-hailing platform Lyft, combining the autonomous technology leader with one of the nation's most established mobility services[3]. The collaboration allows customers to request driverless rides through both companies' applications, creating a seamless experience for riders in the city[4]. Lyft's Flexdrive subsidiary will handle fleet management, ensuring vehicles remain clean, charged, and ready for service while managing demand across the network[4].
This partnership underscores a significant shift in how autonomous vehicle companies are bringing their technology to market. Rather than operating independently, Waymo is leveraging Lyft's proven customer service infrastructure and fleet management capabilities to accelerate deployment[3]. The arrangement also reflects growing investor confidence in the autonomous vehicle sector—Waymo recently raised $16 billion in funding, valuing the company at $126 billion[2].
Expansion Across Major U.S. Cities
Nashville becomes the seventh major U.S. city to receive Waymo's autonomous ride-hailing service[5]. The company already operates in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, with a fleet exceeding 2,500 vehicles[2]. Waymo has completed more than 100 million fully autonomous miles on public roads, demonstrating the maturity and reliability of its technology at scale[3].
The Nashville deployment follows months of preparation, including presentations to Metro police leaders and the establishment of special protocols for interactions with law enforcement and emergency services[1]. The service will initially operate on limited routes within the city, with gradual expansion planned as operations stabilize[1].
Intensifying Competition in the Autonomous Vehicle Market
Waymo's Nashville expansion occurs amid intensifying competition in the robotaxi space. Tesla, led by Elon Musk, has made autonomous vehicles a core business priority, pivoting focus away from traditional electric vehicle production[2]. This competitive pressure is driving rapid innovation and expansion timelines across the autonomous vehicle industry, with multiple companies racing to establish market dominance in key metropolitan areas[2].
Despite emerging competition, Waymo maintains its position as the leading autonomous vehicle operator in the U.S. market, with the most extensive operational experience and the highest number of deployed vehicles[2]. The company's 93% rider satisfaction rate and consistent service quality across existing markets provide a strong foundation for its Nashville operations[6].
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Waymo autonomous rides be available to the public in Nashville?
Waymo has gone fully autonomous in Nashville as of February 2026, with public rides becoming available through the Waymo and Lyft apps in the coming weeks[1][2]. The company completed more than a year of testing with safety drivers before transitioning to fully driverless operations[1].
How will customers request Waymo autonomous rides in Nashville?
Customers can hail Waymo autonomous vehicles through the Waymo app, and as the service expands, they will also be able to request rides through the Lyft app[3]. This dual-app availability provides flexibility for riders familiar with either platform[4].
What areas of Nashville will have Waymo autonomous taxi service?
Initially, the service will be limited to certain routes within Nashville, with special protocols for interactions with police and emergency crews[1]. The company plans to expand coverage as operations prove successful and the city becomes more familiar with the technology.
How does Waymo's Nashville operation compare to its other U.S. cities?
Waymo operates in multiple major cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, with a fleet of over 2,500 vehicles[2]. Nashville represents an opportunity to apply proven operational expertise to a new market while partnering with Lyft for enhanced fleet management[3].
What makes Waymo's autonomous technology different from competitors?
Waymo has driven more than 100 million fully autonomous miles on public roads and maintains a 93% rider satisfaction rate across its service areas[3][6]. The company's generalized Waymo Driver technology has become increasingly capable as it scales across multiple cities and driving conditions[3].
Why is Waymo partnering with Lyft instead of operating independently?
The partnership allows Waymo to leverage Lyft's proven fleet management capabilities through Flexdrive and established customer experience infrastructure[3]. This collaborative approach enables faster expansion and more reliable service delivery compared to independent operations[4].
🔄 Updated: 2/9/2026, 11:10:27 PM
**Nashville Waymo Update: Local Police Greenlight Amid Federal Probe**
Nashville Metro Police have approved Waymo's transition to fully autonomous operations later this month, following leadership's hands-on orientation with vehicles that tested with backup drivers since last year.[1][2][3] This local endorsement persists despite the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's ongoing federal probe into Waymo's failure to obey school bus rules, linked to **20 citations** in Austin, Texas, as of December.[1][2][3] No specific Nashville regulatory hurdles or quotes from state officials beyond general support were detailed in reports.[9]
🔄 Updated: 2/9/2026, 11:20:28 PM
**Waymo launches fully autonomous operations in Nashville**, marking its sixth major U.S. market and expanding beyond the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta where it already operates a fleet of more than 2,500 vehicles[1]. The deployment, conducted in partnership with Lyft through its Flexdrive subsidiary, will initially serve select routes on both the Waymo and Lyft apps, though the move comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigates 20 citations against Waymo vehicles in Austin for failing to obey school bus rules[2][3]. Waymo's latest $16 billion fundraising round—valuing the company at $126 billion
🔄 Updated: 2/9/2026, 11:30:26 PM
**Nashville Metro Police have greenlit Waymo's autonomous taxis for operation later this month, confirming the vehicles—previously tested with backup drivers since last year—will now serve rideshare customers on select routes.**[1][2] This local approval comes amid a federal probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into Waymo's driverless cars for failing to obey school bus rules, following **20 citations** in Austin, Texas, as of December.[1][2] No specific Nashville regulatory hurdles or quotes from officials were detailed beyond police endorsement.[1]
🔄 Updated: 2/9/2026, 11:40:27 PM
**LIVE UPDATE: Waymo's Nashville Rollout Sparks Global Investor Surge Amid International Scrutiny**
Waymo's shift to fully autonomous operations in Nashville—its seventh U.S. city with over **2,500 vehicles** already active nationwide—has ignited worldwide investor fervor, underscored by a **$16 billion** funding round last week that catapulted the Alphabet unit's valuation to **$126 billion**, nearly tripling in under two years.[1][2] International outlets like Malaysia's The Star and Singapore's Business Times hailed the expansion as a milestone in the intensifying global robotaxi race against Tesla, while Tennessee Governor Bill Lee praised it as an "innovative solution to transportation challenges" drawing record relocations.[
🔄 Updated: 2/9/2026, 11:50:28 PM
I cannot provide the market reactions and stock price movements you've requested, as the search results do not contain information about financial markets' response to Waymo's Nashville launch or any stock price data. The available information confirms that **Waymo began fully autonomous robotaxi operations in Nashville on Monday in partnership with Lyft**[1][3], and notes that the company recently secured $16 billion in funding that values it at $126 billion[1], but there are no details about investor sentiment, stock movements, or market reactions to this specific deployment.
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 12:00:29 AM
**Waymo achieves full autonomous operations in Nashville**, marking the company's expansion into its sixth major U.S. city and the first commercial deployment of its driverless taxis on Lyft's ride-hailing network[1][2]. The milestone underscores intensifying global competition in robotaxis, with Waymo's $126 billion valuation following a $16 billion fundraising round demonstrating significant investor confidence in autonomous vehicle technology[1]. However, the expansion faces regulatory scrutiny, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a federal probe into Waymo vehicles failing to obey school bus rules, with 20 citations recorded in Austin as of December[3].
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 12:10:27 AM
**Waymo Live Update: Expert Views on Nashville Autonomous Taxi Trials**
Industry leaders hail Waymo's fully autonomous rollout in Nashville—following over a year of safety-driver testing—as a strategic masterstroke, with Lyft CEO David Risher stating, "Waymo has proven that its autonomous technology works at scale... it's two great tastes that go great together."[5][6] Analysts note Waymo's edge in the intensifying U.S. robotaxi race against Tesla, where Elon Musk's pivot to driverless tech lags behind Waymo's operational fleet exceeding 2,500 vehicles across multiple cities and a fresh $16 billion funding round valuing it at $126 billion.[2][3] Experts predict commercial Lyft-integrated rides b
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 12:20:27 AM
**Waymo Nashville Update: Intensifying Robotaxi Rivalry in the Southeast**
Waymo's driverless Jaguar I-PACE fleet begins autonomous operations in Nashville this month via its Lyft partnership—allowing hails on both apps and Lyft Flexdrive managing maintenance—escalating competition as GM's Cruise maps Atlanta and Miami while Tesla's promised network lags.[2][4][6] "Lyft’s extensive fleet management capabilities through Flexdrive make them an ideal partner," Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana stated, spotlighting the edge over Uber's separate Waymo deals in other markets.[4][5] Backed by $5.6 billion raised in October 2025 for a $11 billion tota
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 12:30:27 AM
**Nashville Metro Police** have greenlit Waymo's autonomous taxis for fully driverless rideshare operations on select routes later this month, following an up-close orientation for leadership and prior testing with backup drivers since last year.[1][2] This local approval persists despite the **National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)** launching a federal probe into Waymo vehicles failing to obey school bus rules, amid **20 citations** issued in Austin, Texas, as of December.[1][2] No specific Nashville regulatory hurdles or additional quotes from officials were detailed in reports.[1]
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 12:40:28 AM
**Waymo's fully driverless robotaxis are now operating in Nashville**, with the white Jaguar I-PACE vehicles available for rides through the Waymo app and expanding to Lyft's platform later this month[5]. Public reaction remains mixed: while some users praise the experience as "smooth" and "safe,"[1] safety concerns have emerged following incidents including a child struck by a Waymo in Southern California in late January and 20 citations in Austin for failing to obey school bus rules[3]. Local rideshare drivers and the Tennessee Drivers' Union, which has grown to roughly 400 members, express deep concern that Waymo will "phase us out," with one
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 12:50:28 AM
**Waymo Live Update: Expert Views on Nashville Autonomous Taxi Trials**
Industry analysts affirm Waymo's lead in the intensifying U.S. robotaxi race, with its fully driverless testing now underway in Nashville after months of mapping—positioning it ahead of rivals like Elon Musk's Tesla, which is pivoting heavily toward robotaxis from EVs[1][2][3]. Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana stated, “We’re delighted to partner with Lyft and launch in Nashville next year... Lyft’s extensive fleet management capabilities through Flexdrive make them an ideal partner,” highlighting the strategic Lyft tie-up for 2026 public rides via both apps[1][4]. Backed by a fresh $16 billion
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 1:00:28 AM
**Nashville NEWS UPDATE: Mixed Reactions to Waymo's Driverless Taxis**
Rideshare drivers are voicing strong opposition to Waymo's fully autonomous rollout in Nashville, with Tennessee Drivers’ Union co-president Monique McClain warning, “This is a way to phase us out,” as the group of roughly 400 members fears job losses amid declining earnings.[4] Many passengers echo discomfort, with McClain noting, “A lot of my passengers talk about Waymo, and many seem uncomfortable with it,” particularly elderly riders struggling with tech and those needing luggage help.[4] The city has responded by adding an AV complaints portal on hubNashville, signaling openness to public feedback amid the testing phase.[4]
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 1:10:27 AM
**Waymo Update: Fully Autonomous Testing Accelerates in Nashville Amid Robotaxi Race**
Waymo has removed human safety drivers from its test fleet in Nashville—after months of mapping and supervised runs—deploying fully driverless Jaguar I-PACE vehicles with its "generalizable **Waymo Driver**" tech, proven safer than human drivers via internal data across 2,500+ vehicles in Phoenix, SF Bay, LA, Austin, and Atlanta[1][2][5]. This milestone, announced February 9, enables hundreds of thousands of weekly autonomous rides, paving for 2026 public launch via Waymo and Lyft apps, where Lyft's Flexdrive handles maintenance and charging[1][5]. Technically, it signals maturing A
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 1:20:27 AM
**Nashville Metro Police have greenlit Waymo's autonomous taxis for rideshare service on select routes, confirming operations will begin later this month after providing leadership with an up-close orientation on the vehicles previously tested with backup drivers.[1][2]** This local approval persists despite the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launching a federal probe into Waymo's driverless cars for failing to obey school bus rules, amid **20 citations** issued in Austin, Texas, as of December.[1][2] No specific regulatory hurdles or statements from Nashville officials beyond the police endorsement have surfaced in current reports.[4]
🔄 Updated: 2/10/2026, 1:30:29 AM
**Waymo has removed human safety drivers from its autonomous test vehicles in Nashville**, advancing toward a commercial robotaxi launch later this year in partnership with Lyft[1]. The deployment uses white Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles and follows Waymo's established rollout pattern, where driverless testing typically precedes paid service launches within six months[2]. The move capitalizes on Tennessee's regulatory advantage—the state allows autonomous vehicle deployment without state-level authorization, unlike California's prescriptive permit system—and Nashville's 15% population growth between 2020 and 2025, which has created ride-hail demand that traditional driver supply cannot meet[2].