Lyft and May Mobility kicked off their self-driving partnership in Atlanta on Wednesday. As part of a pilot program, riders in the area can summon a vehicle equipped with May Mobility’s autonomous driving technology directly through the Lyft app, “with plans to expand service hours and vehicle availability in the months ahead,” the companies said in a release.
Lyft customers in Atlanta could be matched with a May Mobility vehicle if they request a standard or Wait & Save ride within the service area. The vehicles will operate around the Midtown area, including Virginia Highland, Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park.
A standby operator will be in each vehicle “to assist the AV [autonomous vehicle] in some circumstances and help acclimate riders to autonomous driving technology,” the companies said. That means those operators can take the wheel and drive manually as needed on initial trips, “and will intervene less over time as service is optimized,” before the rides eventually go fully driverless.
“AVs are a real solution to the many mobility challenges people face today, and it won’t be long before anybody can get anywhere in a May Mobility AV,” CEO Edwin Olson said in a statement.
Expanding service with rideshare partners
Lyft and May Mobility announced their partnership in November 2024. May Mobility has also teamed up with Uber, with plans to make thousands of autonomous vehicles available via the Uber app over the next few years, starting in Arlington, Texas, by the end of 2025.
May Mobility’s service is already available to riders in a handful of cities via the company’s app or local transit apps, including in Grand Rapids, Minnesota; Peachtree Corners, Georgia; and Martinez, California. The company is also developing a self-driving minibus with European electric minibus manufacturer Tecnobus, which could hit the road next year.
By working alongside more established ride-hailing platforms, self-driving companies like May Mobility and Waymo, which is owned by Google’s parent Alphabet, can expand their reach and lower the barrier to entry for new passengers, since many people already have the Lyft and Uber apps downloaded on their phones.
May Mobility’s existing fleet is made up of hybrid-electric Toyota Sienna minivans. The company’s self-driving system relies on something called Multi-Policy Decision Making technology, which it says can “apply human reasoning to every situation with AI-powered speed and precision, helping each vehicle navigate complex urban environments found in Atlanta.”
Lyft and May Mobility say they “plan to expand the partnership based on community feedback and operational performance, with potential for additional markets and enhanced service offerings.”