Waymo just shook up the robotaxi game. Starting in 2026, its driverless cars will roll through Nashville, but this time, not with Uber. Instead, Waymo is teaming up with Lyft.
That’s a big deal. Lyft has been struggling to bounce back since the pandemic, while Uber’s value has tripled. Partnering with Waymo, the industry leader already running robotaxis in Phoenix, LA, Austin, and Atlanta, could give Lyft a badly needed boost.
But don’t miss the strategy here. Waymo is running rides first on its own app, then on Lyft’s. That keeps control while still giving Lyft access to Waymo’s fleet. Meanwhile, Uber still has Waymo in Atlanta and Austin, so for now, Waymo is playing both sides.
And the real battlegrounds? Airports and transit. Waymo is testing at San Francisco and San Jose airports, and its deal with Via is sliding robotaxis into public transit networks like Chandler, Arizona, even offering rides for under $2.
This isn’t a sprint anymore. It’s a turf war. Nashville is just the next move.