To save money, Google is integrating the Waze staff into the Google Maps unit.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, more than 500 Waze employees will be joining Google’s Geo team. This group is responsible for Google Maps, Google Earth, and Google Street View. Today is the day of the relocation.

A Google representative assured WSJ that the decision would result in no layoffs, but that Waze CEO Neha Parikh would be stepping down during a transition period.

Google, in line with the rest of the IT industry, is cutting back in light of the current economic climate.

September that Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, planned to increase productivity by 20% by, among other things, reducing the size of his staff and consolidating two products into one. Take the consolidation of YouTube Music and Google Play Music.

Despite having 151 million monthly active users, Google has no plans to integrate Waze into any of its other products. By combining forces, we can reduce the amount of time spent on mapmaking that is duplicated across our two offerings.

In a statement, Google stated, “We remain passionately committed to Waze’s distinctive brand, its beloved app, and its growing network of volunteers and users.”

Noam Bardin, the CEO of Waze who oversaw the acquisition by Google, left the firm in February after seven fruitful years in the position. In 2013, Google paid $1.3 billion to acquire Waze.

Upon departing, Bardin explained that all of Waze’s success following the purchase was the result of internal efforts rather than corporate backing in a blog post. Looking back, we see that remaining autonomous would have allowed for far more rapid and efficient expansion.

Waze, meantime, has been given a boost this week due to the fact that it is now a specific app on some new cars with Google built-in, the first of which are new Renault automobiles. The software provides in-car displays with real-time routing, navigation, and notifications, as well as personalised settings and frequently visited locations. New Renault Austral Hybrid and Renault Megane E-Tech all-electric vehicles include Waze.