Waymo is expanding its robotaxi service to teenagers ages 13 to 17 in Nashville, marking the company’s second city after Phoenix to offer rides to minors through teen accounts. This move is part of Waymo’s broader strategy to grow its ridership by including a demographic that traditionally depends on parents or public transportation for mobility. These teen accounts are linked to a parent or guardian, allowing teens to hail autonomous rides within a defined service area and bring up to three friends along for the trip.

The rollout in Nashville follows Waymo’s April 2026 launch of robotaxi service covering a 50-square-mile area, further integrating rideshare options via Lyft’s app earlier this month. The company plans to expand teen account availability to additional cities where its operations are well established and local regulations permit it. This is expected to broaden access and provide a safer alternative for families compared to teen-driven vehicles.

Waymo’s ridership has surged dramatically in the last two years, rising from 50,000 paid weekly trips in May 2024 to over 500,000 per week in 2026 as the company launched services in 12 cities, including recent expansions in Denver, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Tampa. The addition of teen users creates an opportunity to tap into a growing market segment while supporting parents looking for reliable transportation options for their children.

While the service offers teens significant freedom to travel anywhere within Waymo’s operating zones, the company requires a guardianship connection for account activation, with no details yet on how age verification of riders and their guests will be enforced. Despite potential concerns about managing groups of young riders, Waymo believes the offering appeals to families aiming to prioritize safety by using autonomous vehicles over inexperienced teenage drivers.