Google merges Google Maps and Waze teams to cut costs

Google will merge the development teams behind Google Maps and Waze. The American search giant wants to save costs and avoid duplication of work. According to Google, the navigation app will continue to exist separately after this restructuring.

The Waze division counts according to The Wall Street Journal more than 500 employees. These will reportedly be housed in Google’s Geo department. Google products such as Google Maps, Google Earth and Google Street View are also being worked on there.

According to the American newspaper, there would be no layoffs. Waze CEO Neha Parikh would have a different role. Google states that nothing else will change for Waze users. The navigation app will continue to exist separately and all functions and services will continue to be supported. Waze is a free navigation app released in 2006 by a start-up of the same name from Israel. The service was purchased by Google in 2013. The deal was worth $1.1 billion.