Welcome to the Waze Wiki FAQ. This FAQ is user-maintained and designed to supplement the official and technical FAQs:.
How about OpenStreetMap?
Q: OpenStreeMap has extensive map data, licensed under the Creative Commons license. Why doesn't Waze use this data? Isn't it a waste of effort to rebuild all map data from scratch?
A: The business model that Waze plans to use involves keeping Waze free by selling map and traffic data[1]. The CC license used by OSM does not allow this. Waze is currently looking at a collaboration solution[2]. In the meantime, US TIGER data has been imported[3].