Home / Technology / Lyft & Waymo Expand Robotaxi Fleet in Nashville
Lyft & Waymo Expand Robotaxi Fleet in Nashville
6 Nov
Summary
- Lyft plans significant robotaxi fleet growth in Nashville by year-end.
- The company earns revenue from Waymo rides and a fee per available vehicle.
- Airport rides for Waymo autonomous vehicles are launching soon.
Lyft has announced plans to substantially grow its Waymo robotaxi fleet operating in Nashville by the close of 2026. This move is part of Lyft's strategy to boost revenue from self-driving vehicles by managing fleets and connecting riders.
The ride-sharing company benefits financially in Nashville in two primary ways: receiving payment for Waymo rides requested via its application, and through a service fee for each vehicle it maintains, charges, and cleans. As stated by CFO Michael Brous, "We get paid when those vehicles are out of the depot, so per available car."
Furthermore, the introduction of airport rides using Waymo's autonomous vehicles is expected in the near future. Lyft's Flexdrive unit has been servicing the Nashville fleet since June 2026, and the company opened a large depot in the city in October 2026.
Despite optimism about the partnership, specific fleet size or utilization figures were not disclosed. Brous indicated that the scaling of robotaxis would be a gradual process, citing challenges related to hardware, regulations, and operational complexities, as well as broader concerns surrounding artificial intelligence.
In other related news, Waymo's co-CEO mentioned that the company would conclude its exclusive agreement with Uber in Austin and Atlanta starting in January 2028. Meanwhile, Lyft's adjusted core profit saw a significant increase of 47% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026, reaching $203.9 million and surpassing analyst expectations.
