Waze Rolling Out Support for Separate Carpool App Nationwide

Wednesday October 10, 2018 9:38 AM PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Navigation app Waze today announced the nationwide rollout of Waze Carpool [Direct Link], a separate app that is specifically dedicated to allowing users to pick up rides with other passengers on the same route. Waze Carpool launched as a test in the Bay Area in 2016 and slowly expanded to additional states throughout the years, but this marks the first wide availability of the service (via The Verge).

Waze says it uses the original app's routing technology to help commuters find the fastest routes that they can carpool in, filling empty seats in a vehicle and reducing the amount of vehicles on the road. Waze Carpool offers the "best match" for riders and drivers, like those closest to a preferred route or a co-worker on the same shift.


These matches will be at the top of the app, as well as information on the driver or rider's rating, amount of rides, friends, and job information. Users can customize search preference for drivers or co-riders, including toggles for the same gender only or coworkers only.

The Verge explains that Waze Carpool differs from Uber and Lyft's own carpool apps because drivers are paired with riders "with nearly identical commutes based on home and work addresses." Drivers and riders are also limited to two rides per day, meaning that Waze Carpool is not a money-making service for drivers.

In an effort to grow the service, Waze is partnering with companies like Amazon and other businesses.
Now that it’s nationwide, Waze Carpool will be leaning on partnerships with other tech companies in order to scale rapidly. Starting on October 10th, Waze Carpool says it will be available at 50 Amazon Fulfillment Center sites, allowing Amazon employees to carpool to work together. The company is also partnering with cities, businesses, transit agencies, and civic organizations as it seeks to grow its presence.
Last month, Waze for iOS was updated with support for CarPlay on devices running iOS 12. With CarPlay support, iPhone users who prefer to use Waze for mapping purposes can do so through the CarPlay interface, something that was not possible with iOS 11.

Tag: Waze
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NIKKG
15 months ago

I think you literally just described Uber and Lyft, and probably taxis to an extent. I’ve never known a taxi driver before getting into their car. I’ve also never had the same driver more than once (that I’m aware of) on any taxi, Uber, or Lyft.
Waze carpool seems like a good way to actually get to know someone if you’re carpooling the same route each day.

That's cool, I personally like to keep to myself and avoid socializing with strangers, unless it's some hot chick, however, my wife probably won't like that :).
Rating: 2 Votes
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friedmud
15 months ago
Now all they need is an ability to pay the driver - and a way to find drivers “going your way” on the fly. Maybe they could call this new idea “ride hailing” and it could be a great way for people gain a little extra income on the side. If it works out then I could even see people becoming full-time “carpoolers” and picking up people ad-hoc to take them places...
Rating: 1 Votes
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Chabba
15 months ago

Should be interesting to see if this catches on. We'd proposed a similar idea for an app to a number of VC firms about 8 years ago with little interest.

This new Waze Carpool sounds a lot like BlaBlaCar, which is quite popular outside the U.S. and Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlaBlaCar ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlaBlaCar?wprov=sfti1')
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NIKKG
15 months ago
Why would you want some stranger in your car. Prefer to stay alive.
Rating: 1 Votes
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C DM
15 months ago

Must be a West coast thing because I never of heard of anyone actually doing that. I'm sure it happens all over the country, just not anywhere as popular as they make it out to be.

Pretty sure Uber and Lyft and the like are very much beyond something that's just on the west coast (of US).
Rating: 1 Votes
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OldSchoolMacGuy
15 months ago
Should be interesting to see if this catches on. We'd proposed a similar idea for an app to a number of VC firms about 8 years ago with little interest.
Rating: 1 Votes
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NIKKG
15 months ago

Pretty sure Uber and Lyft and the like are very much beyond something that's just on the west coast (of US).

Understood, however, Uber and Lyft are basically an unregulated taxi service. This is more like picking up some stranger to ride with you, more like hitchhiking. I supposed you can share the price of gas or something, however, I'd personally stay away from picking up some dude I never met. You never know if they are crazy and packing weapons. Plus, I don't like riding in a car with a stranger nor wasting time in my morning rush to wait and pick up someone.
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