About Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States
The Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States comprises 407 companies, including 236 funded companies having collectively raised $61.3B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 155 are Series A+ funded, and 14 have achieved unicorn status.
Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States has seen 71 acquisitions and 17 IPOs. This represents almost 21.6% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.5% exit rate of tech companies in general.
This sector includes companies developing autonomous vehicles and/or providing technologies/solutions to enable autonomous driving.
Autonomous Vehicles sector is also known as Autonomous Car, Self Driving Vehicle or Driverless Vehicles.
Companies working on self-driving tech and providing enabling technologies such as perception, mapping & localization, network and V2X solutions. Companies offering testing solutions, teleoperation services, cybersecurity, and fleet management solutions for autonomous vehicles would also be included. Also, includes off highway vehicles which are used for construction, farming, mining, forklifts, ATVs/UTVs, etc. Companies developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) & drones, non-autonomous electric vehicles, and traditional vehicle manufacturers. Companies offering solutions for traditional vehicles such as ADAS, traditional auto component manufacturers would also be excluded.
Top Autonomous Vehicles Companies in United States
There are 407 Autonomous Vehicles startups in United States which include Waymo, Aurora, Ouster, Cruise, Pony.ai. Out of these, 236 startups are funded, with 155 having secured Series A+ funding, and 14 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 4 Autonomous Vehicles startups in United States. Over the past 10 years, an average of 20 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Carnegie Mellon University.
Here is the list of top Autonomous Vehicles startups in United States
1. Waymo
Provider of self-driving and autonomous vehicle solutions for safe and accessible transportation. It is a developer of autonomous driving technology, focusing on creating safe and easy transportation systems for people and things. Utilizing machine learning, Waymo aims to improve road safety through its self-driving vehicle technology. The company has a strong research focus, publishing studies and datasets to advance the autonomous driving industry.
Key facts about Waymo
- Founded Year: 2009
- Location: Mountain View (United States)
- Stage: Series D
- Total Funding till date: $27.1B
- Investors: Silver Lake, T. Rowe Price and 19 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series D, Feb 01, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 80/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 104 Competitors
2. Aurora
Developer of self-driving technology for integration into freight operations. The technology is built of hardware and software intended to improve road safety and supply chain efficiency. It integrates into existing freight operations and operates trucks nearly continuously. It develops hardware, software, and data services to enable self-driving in passenger vehicles, light trucks, and more.
Key facts about Aurora
- Founded Year: 2017
- Location: Mountain View (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $693M
- Investors: Amazon, Greylock Partners and 15 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Jul 28, 2023, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 77/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 50 Competitors
3. Ouster
Manufacturer of lidar sensors, perception software, and solutions for autonomy. The company engineers lidar sensors designed for integration into existing and future applications. It offers hardware including sensors with varying fields of view and range capabilities. The company provides perception software tools and solutions. These are designed for industries such as industrial, security, traffic management, automotive, robotics, drones, and crowd analytics.
Key facts about Ouster
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $140M
- Investors: Cox Enterprises, Runway Growth Capital and 12 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Sep 08, 2020, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 77/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 139 Competitors
4. Cruise
Platform offering solutions for autonomous car. It develops hardware and software-enabled solutions for autonomous cars. It develops customized hardware with the power to manage the software stack. It uses AI to collect data from sensors and also offers object recognition and precision solutions for autonomous vehicles. Also, it offers testing and simulation solutions.
Key facts about Cruise
- Founded Year: 2013
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $7.72B
- Investors: Honda, SoftBank Vision Fund and 39 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series E, Feb 01, 2022, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 74/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 3 of 89 Competitors
5. Pony.ai
The company specializes in developing autonomous driving technology for robotaxis, robotrucks, and POVs. Its core focus is on creating advanced autonomous driving systems designed to provide tailored solutions across multiple industries. By leveraging cutting-edge autonomous mobility technology and services, the company aims to enhance transportation efficiency, safety, and accessibility in diverse use cases.
Key facts about Pony.ai
- Founded Year: 2016
- Location: Fremont (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $1.19B
- Investors: Toyota Motor, Kunlun Capital and 34 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Dec 02, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 73/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 4 of 220 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States
4 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States. 65 Autonomous Vehicles startups in United States were founded in 2017 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 4 |
2025 | 3 |
2024 | 7 |
2023 | 7 |
2022 | 8 |
2021 | 21 |
2020 | 26 |
2019 | 27 |
2018 | 32 |
2017 | 65 |
Stage-wise distribution of Autonomous Vehicles sector companies in United States
Out of the total 407 Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States, 236 have secured funding. Among them, 155 have reached Series A or higher, and 131 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 407
Funded - 236
Series A+ - 155
Series B+ - 131
Series C+ - 109
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 407 |
Funded | 236 |
Series A+ | 155 |
Series B+ | 131 |
Series C+ | 109 |
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Funding Trends in the Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States
Total funding year-on-year in the Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States
The Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States saw a total funding of more than $59.9B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding has been in 2026 at more than $16.9B till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $16.9B |
2025 | $2.47B |
2024 | $6.67B |
2023 | $2.19B |
2022 | $3.51B |
2021 | $8.34B |
2020 | $6.25B |
2019 | $7.07B |
2018 | $4.91B |
2017 | $1.58B |
Recent Funding Rounds in Autonomous Vehicles in United States
In the year 2026, till June 2026, Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States have raised $16.8B in equity funding across 14 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till June 2025), Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States had raised $1.06B across 11 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 1481.74% rise in funding in Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seed | 4540 | Jun 26, 2026 | ||
Series B | 4814 | Jun 12, 2026 | - | |
Seed | 9828 | May 21, 2026 | ||
Series D | 6366 | May 03, 2026 | ||
Seed | 4477 | Apr 21, 2026 |
Top Investors in Autonomous Vehicles in United States
Plug and Play Tech Center is the top investor in Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Sunnyvale (United States) | ||
Mountain View (United States) | ||
Arlington (United States) | ||
Los Altos (United States) | ||
Mountain View (United States) |
M&A activity in Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States
In the year 2026, till May 2026, 3 acquisitions happened in Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States. Last year, in 2025, a total of 4 acquisitions happened in Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | May 27, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Apr 19, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Feb 25, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Dec 15, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 09, 2025 |
Acquisition trends in Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States
Here are the acquisition trends in Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 3 |
2025 | 4 |
2024 | 3 |
2023 | 6 |
2022 | 4 |
2021 | 14 |
2020 | 4 |
2019 | 16 |
2018 | 2 |
2017 | 4 |
IPOs in Autonomous Vehicles in United States
In the year 2025, till December 2025, 4 IPOs happened in Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Dec 10, 2025 | Hong Kong Exchanges (HKG) | |
Nov 06, 2025 | Hong Kong Exchanges (HKG) | |
Nov 06, 2025 | Hong Kong Exchanges (HKG) | |
Sep 25, 2025 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Nov 27, 2024 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) |
Colleges which produce the most Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Autonomous Vehicles in United States
Most number of Autonomous Vehicles startups in United States have been founded by alumni from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Carnegie Mellon University.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 21 |
Stanford University | 16 |
Carnegie Mellon University | 15 |
University of California (Berkeley) | 12 |
University of Pennsylvania | 5 |
Cornell University | 4 |
Harvard University | 4 |
University of California (Los Angeles) | 4 |
Wharton School | 4 |
University of Chicago | 3 |
Total funding in Autonomous Vehicles companies founded by alumni from top colleges in United States
In the last 10 years, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates' Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States have raised the most funding among top colleges. Carnegie Mellon University alumni are second, and Stanford University alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $9.02B |
Carnegie Mellon University | $7.05B |
Stanford University | $3.26B |
Tsinghua University | $2.36B |
Harvard University | $1.25B |
Harvard Business School | $1.2B |
Shanghai Jiao Tong University | $720M |
University of California (Berkeley) | $579M |
University of Pennsylvania | $498M |
IIT Guwahati | $452M |
Top News in Autonomous Vehicles in United States
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Zoox redesigns its robotaxi interior ahead of commercial launch, with NHTSA approval still pendingThe Next Web•Jun 24, 2026•Zoox
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Amazon's Zoox unveils boxy driverless robotaxi focused on passenger comfortNewsBytes•Jun 24, 2026•Zoox
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