Google Maps wants to capture that Waze-like fun, and it’s doing so by borrowing one of the latter’s signature features.
For reference, Google’s flagship navigation app gained custom vehicle icons back in February this year. Those, however, were limited to default ones with color and car type customization options. Waze, on the other hand, lets you choose your vehicle icon from a much bigger list, complete with constant new additions from brand partnerships. The last Waze vehicle icon partnership was ‘The Bad Guys,’ which hit the app just last month.
Now, Google is looking to capture some of that magic by introducing its first ever custom vehicle icon partnership.
Starting today, Google Maps users in the US can swap out the boring default vehicle icon (or the arrow if you haven’t already swapped that out) for American singer and songwriter Benson Boone’s classic Mustang.
Pegman gets a makeover too
Even if you’re not a fan of Boone’s music, changing Maps’ icon to a muscle car should make your daily commute a little bit more exciting. The custom icon isn’t available in Canada, otherwise I would have already swapped out.
To change the icon in your app, initiate a trip — if you’re not actually going anywhere, just initiate a random trip. This should surface the arrow or default vehicle icon for you. Tap on it, and you should see Boone’s Mustang first on the list.
On the other hand, if you’re actually a fan, Maps will now also let you explore a curated list of Boone’s favorite “adventurous places” to visit across his tour cities in the US and Canada. “You’ll find places near and dear to Benson — like his go-to fast food restaurant when he was just starting his career,” wrote Google. The list includes places to eat, parks, state fairs, lakesides, and more
Elsewhere, if you’re looking at one of Boone’s upcoming US tour venues on Google Maps, the familiar Street View Pegman icon in Boone’s attire. Search for the Madison Square Garden on Maps on desktop to check out the little guy.
