But unlike traditional ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft, Google’s new ride-sharing service is created to operate as more of a carpool link-up system than a taxi service-making it a de facto competitor for Uber Pool and Lyft Lines, instead. While Uber and Lyft operate under on-demand taxi model, Waze aims to connect people and share a ride if they are headed in the same direction.
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Google will expand its fledgling Waze Carpool service with trials across Silicon Valley, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Google invested $258 million in industry leader Uber back in 2013, but the pair are beginning to separate from each other. The company plans a wider rollout for everyone this fall, a person with knowledge of the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
‘WazeRider finds you the most convenient, affordable ride to work from fellow commuters already driving with Waze, the world’s largest community-based traffic and navigation app, ‘ the app page says. The service is quite similar to what Waze offers in Israel, where the ride-sharing business has grown lately. And Israeli users can also use Waze as a ride-sharing service, allowing riders to hitch a ride with drivers going in their direction (for a fee). The move would put Google in direct, immediate competition with Uber, which helps explain even further the recent departure of Alphabet executive David Drummond from Uber’s board.
Google on the other hand has launched a pilot project that enables carpooling in San Francisco Bay Area. Uber is also developing its own digital maps, in order to lessen its reliance on Google’s maps.
The future may see self-driving cars from both Uber and Google competing for rider requests. Who’s your money hero – Google or Uber?
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Waze is an Israeli company that Google acquired for $1.1 billion. The firm plans to make the service available to all Waze users in San Francisco. Uber is also designing its own robot-powered vehicles and is using some of the autonomous cars to provide rides in Pittsburgh.
