Key facts
- Lyft has partnered with Waymo to offer robotaxi services through the Lyft app in Nashville.
- Under the agreement, Lyft will manage fleet services, including vehicle readiness and maintenance, for Waymo's driverless vehicles.
- This marks Lyft's first direct commercial robotaxi service using vehicles without human operators.
- Lyft previously sold its autonomous vehicle technology division to Toyota's Woven Planet Holdings in 2021.
- Lyft is exploring further robotaxi partnerships and international expansion, with London being a key focus.
- The Boring Company raised $3 billion at a $23 billion valuation, with participation from the UAE and other venture capital firms.
Lyft has officially entered the commercial robotaxi market by partnering with Waymo, allowing customers to hail Waymo's driverless vehicles directly through the Lyft app in Nashville. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Lyft, which previously developed its own autonomous vehicle technology before selling the division to Toyota's Woven Planet Holdings in 2021.
Under the new partnership, Lyft will manage fleet services for Waymo, including vehicle readiness and maintenance, through its subsidiary Flexdrive. While Waymo robotaxis are now available on the Lyft app in Nashville, depending on availability, customers can also hail them directly via the Waymo app.
Lyft's executive vice president of growth, Jeremy Bird, indicated that the company plans to diversify its robotaxi partnerships and expand internationally in the coming year. London is a key market of interest, where Lyft is exploring hybrid networks combining AVs and human-driven vehicles.
In other mobility news, The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk, raised $3 billion in a funding round led by the United Arab Emirates, valuing the tunnel construction startup at $23 billion. The company plans to dig 150 kilometers of tunnels in the UAE. Other deals this week include ARC Ride raising $33.3 million, Beep raising $20 million, Fryte Mobility raising €3.5 million, Porsche selling its stakes in Bugatti Rimac, Poseidon Aerospace raising $60 million, Stoke Space raising $1 billion, Tern securing a $11.26 million U.S. Army contract, and Uber investing $10 million in Carrum Mobility.