Waymo is taking a new and unique step toward mainstream adoption of autonomous vehicles by partnering with Via Transportation to bring driverless rides into public transit networks. The first rollout will begin this fall in Chandler, Arizona, integrating Waymo’s robotaxis into the city’s Chandler Flex microtransit program.
Chandler Flex, which has operated since 2022 using Via’s on-demand transit software, currently allows residents to book affordable shared shuttle rides through a mobile app. With the new collaboration, some passengers will be matched with a Waymo vehicle instead of a human-driven shuttle, especially during high-demand periods.
Rides will remain priced at just $2 per trip, with discounts for seniors, wheelchair users, and free access for students.
“We’re delighted that this partnership with Waymo paves the path for AVs (autonomous vehicles) to become accessible to millions of global public transit riders, enhancing mobility, lowering operating costs, and improving safety outcomes,” said Daniel Ramot, Via’s co-founder and CEO.
The agreement allows Waymo’s fleet to be dispatched directly through Via’s scheduling system, meaning local governments can manage autonomous rides under the same compliance, funding, and reporting standards already required for public transit.
For Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving division, the partnership signals an important pivot: moving beyond ride-hailing and into city-run transportation networks. Chandler is not a new market for the company—Waymo first offered driverless rides there in 2020.
However, by embedding its robotaxis into public transit, Waymo can ensure higher fleet utilization while giving more residents access to low-cost, self-driving mobility.
Currently, Waymo operates fully autonomous ride-hailing in five U.S. cities, including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. The company says it completes hundreds of thousands of paid trips each week, both through its own app and through partners such as Uber—and Lyft is set to join soon.
Just one day before the Via announcement, Waymo revealed plans to expand its service to Nashville in 2026 in partnership with Lyft. The company also received approval to begin testing at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
