Core Viewpoint - Lyft and Waymo are set to expand their autonomous ride-hailing service to Nashville in 2026, indicating a strategic move to enhance their market presence in the autonomous vehicle sector [1] Company Summary - Lyft is collaborating with Waymo to introduce their autonomous ride-hailing service, showcasing a partnership aimed at leveraging technology to improve transportation options [1] - Waymo continues to expand its operational footprint, reflecting its commitment to advancing autonomous driving technology and increasing service availability [1] Industry Summary - The expansion of autonomous ride-hailing services represents a significant trend in the transportation industry, highlighting the growing acceptance and integration of autonomous vehicles into urban mobility solutions [1] - Nashville's selection as a new market for this service indicates a targeted approach to urban areas with potential demand for innovative transportation solutions [1]

Waymo is tapping an old partner, Lyft, to launch a robotaxi service in Nashville. https://t.co/ufSDLtCnba ...

格隆汇9月17日｜Lyft(LYFT.US)盘前大涨28%，Uber(UBER.US)盘前跌3%；在线租车平台Lyft宣布与 Waymo达成合作，在纳什维尔市推出自动驾驶出行合作项目。 ...

Core Insights - Waymo has partnered with Lyft to launch a robotaxi service in Nashville by 2026, with testing of all-electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles starting soon and public access expected next year [1][2] Expansion Plans - This partnership marks Waymo's continued expansion of its robotaxi services beyond Phoenix to cities including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with future plans for Miami, Washington D.C., Dallas, and Denver [2] Operational Model - The agreement reflects Waymo's strategy to transition from being a sole operator to an autonomous vehicle technology provider, as seen in its previous collaborations with Uber in Atlanta and Austin, where Waymo handled vehicle testing and support while Uber managed fleet services [3] Fleet Management - In the Nashville partnership, Lyft will manage fleet services, including vehicle maintenance and infrastructure, through its subsidiary Flexdrive, and is investing in a dedicated AV facility [4] Customer Access - Unlike the Uber partnership, Nashville robotaxi customers will have two options to access rides: directly through the Waymo app initially, and later through the Lyft app as the service expands [5][6] Previous Collaborations - Waymo and Lyft have collaborated before, notably in 2019, when they integrated a limited number of self-driving vehicles into Lyft's network in Phoenix as part of Waymo's commercial robotaxi service ramp-up [8]

Group 1 - Waymo has partnered with Lyft to launch its robotaxi service in Nashville, marking the first commercial deal between the two companies [1][2] - Riders in Nashville will be able to hail Waymo robotaxis through the Waymo One app, while Lyft will integrate Waymo's robotaxis into its platform over time [2] - Waymo has established a significant presence in the U.S. robotaxi market, surpassing 10 million paid trips and planning to expand operations to several new cities including Miami and Washington, D.C. [3] Group 2 - In international markets, Waymo faces competition from Baidu's Apollo Go service, which has announced partnerships to deploy driverless taxis in Europe and other regions [4] - Lyft has previously collaborated with Waymo on a pilot program in Phoenix and is currently testing with May Mobility in Atlanta [5] - Lyft is under pressure to compete with Uber, which has a market cap exceeding $200 billion, significantly overshadowing Lyft's valuation [5]

Waymo will soon have its robotaxis on the road operated by rivals Lyft and Uber as part of Alphabet company's strategy to bring more self-driving cars to the masses. Waymo said Wednesday it will initially provide rides in Nashville through its proprietary app. As the service expands, riders will be able to match with a fully autonomous Waymo on the Lyft app.In its announcement, Waymo said Lyft will oversee vehicle maintenance and depot operations through the ride-hailing company's subsidiary Flexdrive. Fle ...

Robotaxi leader Waymo on Wednesday announced that its driverless vehicles will begin transporting passengers in Nashville, Tennessee, next year while heading in a new direction by teaming up with Lyft instead of its recent ride-hailing partner Uber. The Nashville plan calls for robotaxi ride requests to initially be limited to Waymo's own mobile app before expanding on to Lyft's app later next year. Waymo's decision to work with Lyft in Tennessee's biggest city means its robotaxis will now be available o ...

Group 1 - Lyft Inc. shares reached a new all-time high, driven by investor optimism regarding potential benefits from pending California legislation [1][3] - The stock hit a 52-week price of $20.50 during trading, closing up 9.77% at $20.44 [2] - Proposed California bills AB 1340 and SB 371 would allow drivers to negotiate terms as a union while keeping their independent contractor status, potentially lowering costs for Lyft [3][4] Group 2 - Bernstein estimates that the legislation could reduce Lyft's costs by nearly 30% of its 2026 EBITDA, although most savings may be reinvested into lower consumer prices and higher driver earnings [4] - Lyft plans to raise $450 million through convertible senior notes due 2030, with proceeds aimed at funding a share buyback program and other corporate purposes [5]

Core Insights - Via Transportation successfully completed its IPO, with shares rising 7.63% to $49.51, resulting in a market capitalization of $3.937 billion [1] - The reopening of capital markets for IPOs is driven by expectations of lower interest rates and improving economic conditions in the US [2][5] - Via's business model focuses on providing mobility management systems for public transport, primarily serving local authorities in the US [6][7] Company Performance - Via has reported growing revenue but continues to incur significant quarterly losses, indicating a focus on achieving profitability [2] - The company has raised nearly $900 million in private investments prior to its IPO, with a valuation increase from $2.93 billion to $3.03 billion between 2021 and 2023 [9] - Despite impressive revenue growth, Via's valuation has only marginally increased over the past four years, reflecting challenges in the market [9] Market Context - Other Israeli companies are preparing for IPOs, including Lendbuzz, Armis, and VAST Data, indicating a trend of increasing activity in the capital markets [3][5] - The anticipated growth in the US economy and expectations of interest rate cuts are encouraging investors to support newly listed companies [5] Investor Insights - Early investors in Via, such as Pitango and 83North, are significant beneficiaries of the IPO, with substantial returns on their investments [10][11] - Exor Ventures is the largest shareholder in Via, holding 18.7% of the company's shares, valued at $736 million [12] - Some investors, like Mori Arkin and the Vertex Fund, are experiencing lower returns due to their investment timing relative to Via's valuation changes [12]

Core Viewpoint - Lyft's stock is outperforming the S&P 500 with over a 40% gain year to date in 2025, contradicting the narrative of its impending demise [1][2] Company Performance - In Q2 2025, Lyft recorded nearly 235 million rides, a 14% year-over-year increase, marking its ninth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth [9] - Lyft has achieved a record of 26 million active riders, indicating strong demand and growth in its user base [9] Valuation and Investment Potential - Lyft's stock trades at 8 times its trailing free cash flow, significantly lower than Uber's 23 times, suggesting it is undervalued [10] - The potential for Lyft's stock to double exists, as the market begins to recognize its undervaluation, while ongoing business growth could further enhance its market performance [12] - Lyft repurchased $200 million of its stock in Q2, reducing its share count for the first time, which can increase the value of remaining shares [13][14] Industry Dynamics - The narrative of a future dominated by autonomous ride-sharing fleets, particularly by Tesla, is challenged by the fact that multiple manufacturers are developing autonomous vehicles, ensuring competition [7][8] - Despite predictions of Tesla's dominance in the ride-sharing market, Lyft's performance metrics continue to rise, indicating that demand aggregators like Lyft will still be necessary [8]