Google subsidiary Waze tests carpool program in Israel

Google’s subsidiary Waze, which makes a social navigation app, is to test a carpool application in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. The app will be called RideWith and will focus on commuting in the area.

RideWith maps the routes that users have to take to and from work and then connects users who would benefit from a carpool, reports the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The occupants can then share the cost of the journey. In addition, a small amount is included for things like wear and tear and maintenance. That way, users would be cheaper and the service would fight traffic jams, which is also one of the goals of the original Waze app.

Google acquired Waze a few years ago. The carpool service is currently a small-scale test, the company told Reuters news agency. Drivers can share up to two trips per day and will not be able to make a profit from it. With this, Waze wants to distinguish its new app from taxi service Uber.