Waymo and Lyft open Nashville depot built to support hundreds of robotaxis
The 80,000-square-foot Flexdrive site near the airport brings charging, repairs and cleaning under one roof
Waymo and Lyft opened an 80,000-square-foot Nashville depot on Oct. 12, providing a dedicated base to charge, clean, inspect and repair the autonomous vehicles used in the city’s robotaxi service. The Donelson facility, housed in a former postal building near Nashville International Airport, is designed to support hundreds of cars as the companies enlarge the local fleet.
Flexdrive, Lyft’s fleet-management subsidiary, runs the site around the clock across three shifts. Vehicles return at least once a day for charging and servicing, with cleaning conducted during the same visit and additional work, including tire changes, handled as needed.
The building has dozens of fast chargers, maintenance bays equipped for high-voltage repairs and secure parts storage. Waymo vehicles are intended to remain in service for at least eight hours before returning for charging and maintenance; much of that process is automated, with a vehicle displaying an “I’m ready to go” message when charging has finished.
The facility has created more than 70 full-time jobs, including technicians, fleet-operations staff, repair coordinators and maintenance specialists. About 70 people staff the depot, and Lyft has said the Nashville operation could create hundreds more jobs in coming years. Many of the initial workers are former Lyft drivers moving into servicing and maintenance roles.
Waymo selected the site partly for its proximity to the airport, where it had been testing vehicles as it sought to extend service. The depot is about eight minutes from BNA and 20 minutes from Broadway. Waymo rides in Nashville are available through the Lyft app, following the partnership arrangement announced by Waymo in April.
As we reported in September, Waymo’s commercial robotaxi service had grown to 15 U.S. cities. In Nashville, riders have already taken 100,000 Waymo trips, according to WKRN News 2. Waymo initially launched in a 60-square-mile service area in the city.
Lyft has described the depot as the country’s first purpose-built autonomous-vehicle facility and said it could become a template for future Flexdrive sites. The company is also exploring additional locations as demand rises, arguing that a larger operational footprint could shorten rider waits and reduce congestion.