wall street journalSources have reported that Google plans to merge the Waze navigation service, which it acquired in 2013, with the Google Maps product team to meet the need to streamline operating costs.
A Google spokesperson later confirmed the matter, confirming that starting from this Friday local time in the United States, approximately 500 employees of the Waze team will be merged with the Google Maps product team.
Meanwhile, Waze CEO Neha Parikh will step down after the merger transition period. In further clarification, Google stated that it will continue to allow Waze to operate independently and will not lay off employees during the restructuring process.
Through this merger, Google expects to reduce the overlap in map-making between Waze and Google Maps products, thereby lowering overall operating costs.
