Waymo has launched its robotaxi service in Nashville, marking the city as the eleventh where members of the public can hail a self-driving vehicle. The company began with months of manual and semi-autonomous driving tests before opening their app to select riders on a rolling basis.

The launch contrasts with previous partnerships, such as that with Uber in Austin, Atlanta and Phoenix, where customers have had to use the Uber app for robotaxi rides. In Nashville, however, passengers can choose between the Waymo or Lyft app – indicating a strategic shift towards direct customer engagement over third-party apps.

Waymo will operate within a 60-square-mile area of Nashville with dozens of self-driving vehicles available to serve riders. The company's approach reflects its dual strategy: operating independently in some markets, like San Francisco, and partnering in others, such as the relationship with Lyft in Nashville.

This expansion showcases Waymo’s ambition to integrate seamlessly into existing ride-hailing ecosystems while also maintaining control over their technology. As they continue to grow their network of cities, the question remains: how long until fully autonomous vehicles become a norm on our streets?