They're separate because Waze has a reputation of giving more "aggressive" routing, and has a social aspect to it. Stuff that really doesn't belong in Google Maps.
I've long wondered how much longer Google would maintain two different mapping apps. It's long seemed like Waze acted as a beta test of Google Maps experiments, but I think it's starting to outlive our digital overlords' usefulness
Google Maps is a good general maps app, but Waze is really good at one thing only: driving. In Waze you can share your drive, look for gas stations along the way (with prices and travel time), use toll passes, and get a personalized ETA based on your driving.
Google has had the chance to implement these features into Maps for the 10 years it has owned Wazd but just hasn't, and I don't think they will. At least not all of them.
It makes me sad that people are losing their jobs. Somewhere out there are real people with real families wondering what they’re going to do if they’re out of a job. It just sucks.
If google implemented the social aspects of Waze into maps it would be the ultimate maps app. I understand that the nature of google maps is different than Waze's, but maybe including a social mode in maps that shows all the information that Waze shows would make it a million times better.