By Norihiko Shirouzu

(Reuters) -Alphabet’s Waymo plans to start offering autonomous cab rides in Nashville next year in collaboration with ride-hailing firm Lyft, the two companies said.

Riders in the Music City will initially be able to hail self-driving cabs through the Waymo app. As the service grows, riders will also be able to use the Lyft app to match with a Waymo vehicle, the companies said in a statement.

As part of the agreement, Lyft will invest an undisclosed sum in an autonomous vehicle fleet-management facility, where it will charge and maintain Waymo vehicles. Lyft’s services should maximize the time Waymo’s vehicles are in operation and reduce costs, the two companies said.

It would be the first commercial deployment of Waymo’s driverless taxis on the Lyft ride-hailing n

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