Google has launched a carpooling service in its maps app Waze in a move that puts the search giant in direct competition with Uber.
Designed “to connect Waze users that need a ride with Waze users headed in the same direction”, the new carpooling feature is part of a separate app called Waze Carpool.
Unlike Uber, the carpooling service limits drivers to two rides a day and designates that journeys won’t involve multiple stops.
It also only requires riders to reimburse drivers a minimal amount for the cost of fuel and wear and tear on the car.
Following a successful trial in Tel Aviv of an app called RideWith, Waze Carpool is now being tested in San Francisco’s Bay Area.