Who Owns Waze? Know the Google LLC Acquisition
Google LLC Owns Waze back in 2013 in $ 1.1 Billion. Currently, Google is a owner of this navigational app. It was founded by Ehud Shabtai, Amir Shinar, and Uri Levine in 2008.
Lets have complete go through about waze ownership.
| Statistics | Value |
| Year founded | 2008 |
| Founders | Ehud Shabtai, Uri Levine, and Amir Shinar |
| Year Acquired by Google | 2013 |
| Acquisition Cost | $1.3 billion |
| 140Active Users Worldwide(2023) | 140 million |
| Countries Where Waze is Available | 185+ |
| Daily Reports Submitted by Users | 3 million+ |
History of Waze
- Waze was developed by an Israeli company called Waze Mobile.
- It was founded in 2008 by Ehud Shabtai, Uri Levine, and Amir Shinar.
- The app was named FreeMap Israel in the beginning and was launched to help users navigate.
- Then it gained popularity because this app also allowed users to actively update the maps and share real-time traffic data, road hazards, and police traps.
By 2010, the brand of this app was changed to Waze and then it expanded globally. It attracts millions of users across various countries. The Waze app’s ability to provide real-time, user-generated data makes it different and traditional navigation tools, making it highly popular among drivers.
Who Owns Waze?
In 2013, the popularity of Waze expanded which took the attention of the tech giant. Then, Google owned it, acquiring Waze for a reported $1.1 billion. This acquisition was one of Google’s navigation markets.
Google’s decision to take Waze was driven by multiple factors.
- First, the data from the Waze community was valuable to Google Maps, allowing Google to enhance its own navigation services with real-time traffic updates and incident reports.
- Second, acquiring Waze prevented competitors like Facebook and Apple from taking place in the navigation space.
Waze has continued to operate as a separate app within Google, maintaining its distinct brand identity. After owning by Google, Waze still retained its unique features, including its huge approach and increasing user experience.
The Role of Waze within Google
As under the ownership of Google, Waze benefits from access to advanced technologies and resources. For example, Waze has gained Google’s search capabilities, which allow users to find their destinations easily. Moreover, Google has the real-time data of Waze to improve its own services, including Google Maps and Google Assistant.
Waze has expanded its functions by adding features such as
- Carpooling services, which connect drivers and
- Passengers heading in the same direction
Current Ownership and Leadership
In 2024, Waze is still fully owned by Google, which is itself a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. The app’s development is overseen by Google’s Geo division. It also manages Google Maps and other location-based services. Waze’s leadership team has largely remained in place, ensuring that the app continues to fulfill the needs of its user community.
Waze’s CEO, Noam Bardin, who led the company through its acquisition by Google, played an important role in maintaining the identity of Waze.
FAQs:
Q. Why did Google buy Waze?
Google acquired Waze to add information on traffic, social data, road alerts, and many other things.
Q. When did Google owns Waze?
Google owns Waze in 2013 due to its amazing features related to navigation and real-time traffic.
