Waze, the popular traffic and navigation app owned by Google, announced its latest partnership on Wednesday with comedian Hasan Minhaj. Minhaj will join Waze as the newest personal navigator, adding entertainment and humor to users’ driving experiences with relatable commentary on traffic, self-deprecating jokes, and funny insights about driving.
As part of the collaboration, Waze is also introducing new digital icons that will appear on the app’s map. Users will have the option to select a “suburban dad” minivan icon, symbolizing Minhaj’s role as a father, and a Hasan-inspired “Mood” icon that reflects the driver’s appearance on the map. By enabling these features, users can navigate the roads with a touch of “suburban dad energy.”
To access the new feature, users can go to the menu and select “Customize your drive,” then choose Hasan Minhaj. While the feature is globally available, the voice directions provided by Minhaj are currently only offered in English.
Waze is renowned for its celebrity voice packages, having previously featured stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Patrick Harris, and Morgan Freeman, among others. The app currently offers voice directions from artists like Christina Aguilera, the Jonas Brothers, and Kehlani.
Expressing his excitement about the partnership, Minhaj stated, “I’m thrilled to be partnering with Waze as your personal navigator in my new driving experience. The car is where I come up with some of my best content—from jokes about traffic stalls to my experiences with the dreaded ‘Check Engine’ light. I think everyone can relate to the absurdities of driving, and I love the opportunity to bring some humor to everyone on the roads.”
With Minhaj’s upbeat attitude and witty jokes, users can expect an entertaining and enjoyable driving experience through this new collaboration with Waze.