Waymo is expanding its robotaxi service to include teenagers as young as 13 in Nashville, marking the second city after Phoenix to offer this feature. The move is part of a broader strategy to tap into a new demographic, aiming to complement the rapid growth in paid robotaxi trips that have seen weekly figures increase from 50,000 in 2024 to over half a million this year.

Nashville’s local leaders and young riders alike are onboard with the initiative, which has seen Waymo roll out services in a 50-square-mile area of the city since April 2026. The service is now available through the Lyft app, adding to the growing network of cities where Waymo operates.

Teen riders will be able to hail Waymo's autonomous vehicles with a parent's permission, and they can bring up to three friends. The company has not specified how the age verification will be handled, leaving room for speculation on whether tech-savvy teens can outwit the system.

For parents, this could be a godsend, offering a safer alternative to teenage drivers or public transport. However, the idea of multiple teenagers in a single robotaxi could lead to unpredictable scenarios, much to the amusement of onlookers.

The success of this teenage program could be pivotal for the future of autonomous ride-sharing, potentially setting a precedent for other cities and companies to follow.