26-03-2025
Waymo to test driverless cars on Nashville roadways
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Driverless cars could soon be rolling on the streets of Nashville as the rideshare service Waymo will test the technology in Music City this week.
Nashville now joins the list of more than a dozen testing cities for Waymo's autonomous vehicles. Customers will be able to download the app and select pickup and dropoff locations like other rideshare services. Once the car arrives, you'll be able to unlock the door with your phone; cost will depend on where you want to go.
Waymo to begin testing autonomous vehicles in Nashville
The vehicles use a combination of software and sensors — like cameras, radar and LiDAR — that help them understand their surroundings. However, there have been mixed reactions from Middle Tennesseans about whether they would actually get in one.'If in need, yes, I'll trust anything because I have the lord on my side,' Crystal White said.'I've gotten into Ubers before [and] it's basically the same thing,' Chase George said.
The fully electric vehicles are available in several cities 24/7, including Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco. In Nashville, Waymo leaders recently met with city officials to discuss the first phase of testing, which includes a driver behind the wheel to map complex parts of the city's roads.
Late last year Waymo teamed up with Uber in two major city cities to allow Uber users to pick a self-driving car. Some rideshare drivers said Waymo may present a tricky situation for those who rely on the app to make money if it comes to the city permanently.
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'You're pretty much your own business owner,' Monique McClain, a Nashville rideshare driver, told News 2. '…It's basically saying, 'We don't care. This is bringing in money to our city, so you'll have to either take it or find you another career.''
Waymo has not announced when cars will be fully available for Nashville customers. but the first phase of mapping the city is expected to last six weeks. News 2 reached out to Waymo for comment on visiting Nashville — but representatives were not available to speak as of publication.
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