Waymo rides are on Lyft in Nashville

A man with a beard and a kippah drives a car with a city skyline and a river visible through the windshield.

Starting today, autonomous Waymo vehicles are live on Lyft in Nashville. Riders here can now match with both driver-operated and autonomous rides. Here's what to know.

What to know

We're building a hybrid platform where drivers and autonomous vehicles complement each other on one rideshare network.

How Waymo ride matching works

Riders requesting a Standard, Priority Pickup, Wait & Save, or Extra Comfort ride are now eligible to match with a Waymo vehicle. In order to get matched with a Waymo vehicle, the ride must start and end in the service area in central Nashville. Waymo vehicle availability is currently limited, with plans to gradually increase over time.

Riders can decline autonomous ride matches and opt for a driver instead. They can also opt out of autonomous rides completely. Drivers will still receive ride requests throughout and around the service area.

A map of Nashville, Tennessee, highlighting various neighborhoods like Midtown, Germantown, and Music Row in gray.

Waymo service area

Tips for when and where to drive

You may notice changes in ride demand and guidance with autonomous vehicles on the road. Plan ahead with your Weekly Planner, check for busy areas on your map, and look out for Turbo Zones to get real-time guidance on the best places to drive.

A mobile app screen displays a bar graph of "Turbo zones" and "Predicted demand" in Nashville, TN, for Monday, June 4.

Weekly Planner in the Lyft Driver app

What riders value most

A friendly greeting, help with luggage, and local recommendations can make your customer service stand out to riders. You can see what riders value most about you and track your progress in the Feedback & Insights Hub. Plus, great service can help you earn cash, gift cards, and more through Lyft Rewards.

A mobile app screen titled "Feedback & insights" shows a notification about top driver status and two cards for "Customer service" and "Passenger safety."

Feedback and Insights Hub in the Lyft Driver app

Your feedback matters

Driver feedback shapes how we grow. Through programs like the Lyft Driver Autonomous Forum, we host live sessions with drivers, including here in Nashville. During these discussions, we share updates, listen to your concerns, and collaborate on ways to improve.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Waymo?

Waymo is a leading autonomous driving technology company. Since 2017, their vehicles have driven millions of miles in the real world and billions more in simulation. They currently serve 11 US cities. Learn more about Waymo here, and read more about our partnership in our press release.

How do autonomous Waymo vehicles work?

Through a number of sensors, including cameras, radar, and lidar, plus powerful artificial intelligence (AI) software, Waymo cars are designed to safely navigate the complexities of driving. Learn more about their technology here.

Where and when will autonomous vehicles operate in Nashville?

The fleet of autonomous vehicles will operate within the service area, primarily focused on central Nashville, including:

Downtown/Broadway
North Nashville/Germantown
East Nashville
Midtown
South Nashville

Waymo vehicles operate 24 hours a day. We will proactively notify drivers in Nashville if the service area changes.

Will requesting a ride look different for riders?

Riders will still request rides in the Lyft app and will pay the same amount, whether matched with a Waymo vehicle or a human driver. They can opt out of autonomous rides at any time.

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