Lyft and Waymo are partnering to bring robotaxis to Nashville

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]