Lyft's Flexdrive division is hiring ride-hailing drivers for new roles maintaining Waymo's self-driving cars at a Nashville depot. The initiative offers an alternative career path for drivers, focusing on vehicle cleaning, management, and technical repairs.
This initiative highlights a new operational model for autonomous vehicle companies, creating alternative employment opportunities for ride-hailing drivers as self-driving technology advances.
Lyft's Flexdrive division is expanding its operations by hiring ride-hailing drivers to service Waymo's fleet of self-driving cars. The company plans to open an 80,000-square-foot depot in Nashville, near the city's airport, to house and maintain Waymo vehicles. This initiative aims to address the logistical needs of autonomous vehicle fleets, which require human intervention for tasks such as cleaning, charging, and repairs.
Approximately half of the 70 employees to be hired for the Nashville depot will be current or former Lyft drivers. These individuals will transition into roles like car cleaners and depot management, leveraging their existing knowledge of the ride-hailing business. Flexdrive CEO John Parks stated that these drivers often possess a consumer-centric mindset and a better understanding of operational demands compared to external hires. The company already has about 35% of its current workforce comprised of former gig drivers.
Waymo, which began offering rides in Nashville in April, has established similar partnerships with other companies, including Uber in Atlanta and Austin, and Avis Budget Group, for vehicle maintenance and storage. The move by Lyft offers a potential alternative career path for ride-hailing drivers concerned about displacement by autonomous vehicles, providing an opportunity to 'get skilled up' in new roles within the evolving transportation sector.