Residents and visitors in Nashville can now request rides in fully driverless Waymo vehicles directly through the Lyft app, according to a September 9 announcement. This launch represents a significant milestone as Nashville becomes the first city where Waymo’s autonomous service is integrated into both the Lyft platform and the company’s own application.
Users can be matched with a Waymo vehicle when booking various ride types, including Standard, Priority Pickup, Wait & Save, and Extra Comfort options. The service is provided at no additional cost compared to standard Lyft fares. However, availability is currently limited to routes that both begin and end within Waymo’s designated service zones in central Nashville, which encompass Downtown/Broadway, North Nashville/Germantown, East Nashville, Midtown, and South Nashville.
While the integration is automatic, Lyft has emphasized that it remains optional. Passengers retain the ability to decline a Waymo vehicle if they prefer not to ride in an autonomous car, and the platform notes that availability will expand throughout the city over the coming weeks.
The partnership between the two companies was initially announced in September of last year, when Waymo revealed plans to direct users to its self-driving fleet. Following that announcement, Waymo began testing its vehicles in Nashville. By February of this year, the company received regulatory approval to operate its cars without human drivers behind the wheel, paving the way for the current commercial rollout.
Do they really expand beyond central zones soon, or is this just another limited rollout that fizzles out?
I drove past a Waymo car downtown yesterday with no one in the driver’s seat. Totally surreal but kind of impressive.
Wait, I thought Waymo was only on its own app? This is huge for riders who hate downloading extra apps.