Waymo expands robotaxi services with teen accounts in Nashville and testing in Charlotte

Waymo, an Alphabet subsidiary, is expanding its autonomous ride-hailing services in the United States. In Nashville, the company has launched teen accounts, allowing riders aged 13 to 17 to hail robotaxis provided their accounts are linked to a parent or guardian. This follows a similar program in Phoenix and is intended to be the first of many such launches in mature markets. The Nashville service area covers approximately 50 square miles.

Simultaneously, Waymo has begun testing driverless cars in Charlotte. While the company has transitioned from human-driven vehicles to tests involving trained specialists, no official launch date for public rides has been set. The testing process involves mapping roads and establishing local infrastructure, such as service centers and charging depots, before commercial operations can begin.