Waymo is continuing its rapid expansion across the United States, launching its driverless service to the public in Nashville. Starting April 7, riders in Music City can now hail a vehicle with no one behind the wheel, marking the company’s 11th active market in the U.S.
Not everyone will have immediate access however. Riders who download the Waymo app will begin receiving invitations to book fully autonomous rides. The company says access will expand gradually, a strategy designed to maintain a “consistent, comfortable, and especially safe rider experience from day one.”
The launch covers a roughly 60-square-mile service area across some of Nashville’s busiest and most recognizable neighborhoods like Downtown, Midtown, Music Row, and East Nashville. Waymo has also confirmed it is testing operations at Nashville International Airport, with plans to include airport service in the near future.
The company has spent the past six months mapping Nashville’s streets and learning local driving patterns, initially with safety drivers before transitioning to fully autonomous testing.
Waymo says safety remains its primary focus, pointing to internal data showing its vehicles have been involved in significantly fewer serious incidents compared to human drivers. “Every year, over 40,000 people die because of road deaths, and that’s really why Waymo was created: to be the world’s most trusted driver,” said spokesperson Mark Lewis.
For now, Nashville riders will need to join a waitlist to access the service, which is already seeing strong demand. Waymo also confirmed that pricing is currently slightly higher than traditional ride-hailing options like Uber or Lyft.
Later this year, the company plans to deepen its integration with Lyft, allowing users to request Waymo vehicles directly through the Lyft app. Lyft will also help manage fleet operations in the city.
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