Lyft Launches Fully Driverless Waymo Robotaxis in Nashville
Lyft launches fully driverless Waymo rides in Nashville, handles fleet operations, and targets London and wider global robotaxi expansion starting in 2027.
Summary
During the week of September 13, 2026, Waymo robotaxis joined Lyft’s Nashville app, giving Lyft its first commercial service with no human operator. Riders can request the vehicles directly through Waymo or receive one through Lyft when available. Lyft’s wholly owned Flexdrive subsidiary manages vehicle readiness, maintenance, infrastructure and depot operations. Earlier Lyft partnerships involved Aptiv, now Motional, in Las Vegas, May Mobility in Atlanta, Baidu in London and Waymo in Phoenix.
Lyft previously spent four years and millions of dollars developing autonomous technology through Level 5, which it sold to Toyota’s Woven Planet Holdings for $550 million in 2021. Executive vice president of growth Jeremy Bird said 2026 centered on Waymo in Nashville and Baidu in London, where commercial service has not launched. Lyft expects greater diversification in 2027, ideally expanding both partnerships. Its international strategy prioritizes markets that can support autonomous and human-driven vehicles together, with regulatory openness influencing where it enters next.
Positives
- Nashville gives Lyft its first commercial robotaxi service operating without a human behind the wheel.
- Flexdrive provides Waymo vehicle readiness, maintenance, infrastructure and depot operations for the Nashville partnership.
- Two apps let Nashville riders request Waymo vehicles directly or receive one through Lyft when available.
- 2027 plans could expand Lyft’s Waymo and Baidu partnerships across more international markets.
Risks & concerns
- Lyft’s app matches riders with a Waymo only when a vehicle is available, leaving access uncertain.
- Baidu’s planned London commercial service had not launched by September 13, 2026.
- Jeremy Bird provided no firm locations or launch dates for Lyft’s next robotaxi markets.
- Regulatory openness will limit which international markets can support Lyft’s planned hybrid autonomous and human-driven networks.