Waymo Launches Fully Driverless Robotaxis in Nashville

Feb 9 (GeokHub) - Waymo has begun operating fully autonomous vehicles in Nashville, Tennessee, marking a significant expansion as competition intensifies in the U.S. robotaxi market.

The self-driving unit of Alphabet said Monday that its vehicles are now running without human safety drivers in the city, accelerating its commercial rollout as autonomous ride-hailing gains momentum nationwide.

First Driverless Deployment on a Ride-Hailing Network

The move follows an earlier announcement that Waymo would partner with Lyft to offer autonomous rides in Nashville, making the city the first location where Waymo’s driverless vehicles operate directly on a major ride-hailing platform.

The launch represents a key milestone for both companies as they seek to scale autonomous transportation beyond pilot programs and into everyday urban travel.

Rising Competition in Robotaxi Race

Waymo remains the leading operator of autonomous vehicles in the United States, but pressure is mounting as rivals push aggressively into the sector.

Tesla has placed robotaxis at the center of its long-term strategy, shifting focus away from traditional electric vehicle growth. Other startups and automakers are also racing to deploy driverless fleets amid growing investor interest.

Expanding Fleet and Investor Momentum

Waymo currently operates more than 2,500 autonomous vehicles across several major U.S. markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta.

Last week, the company disclosed a major fundraising round totaling $16 billion, valuing the autonomous driving startup at $126 billion — nearly three times its valuation from less than two years ago. The raise underscores strong investor confidence in the future of self-driving technology.

As Waymo scales into new cities, Nashville’s launch signals how quickly fully autonomous transportation is moving from experimental technology to commercial reality.