About Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States
The Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States comprises 454 companies, including 238 funded companies having collectively raised $62.2B 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 19.4% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.0% 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 454 Autonomous Vehicles startups in United States which include Waymo, Aurora, Ouster, Cruise, Pony.ai. Out of these, 238 startups are funded, with 155 having secured Series A+ funding, and 14 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 12 Autonomous Vehicles startups in United States. Over the past 10 years, an average of 23 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 107 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, Hyundai and 16 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Jul 28, 2023, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 78/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 51 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: Runway Growth Capital, Tao Capital Partners and 13 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Sep 08, 2020, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 76/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 142 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: 75/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 92 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 228 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States
12 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States. 66 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 | 12 |
2025 | 17 |
2024 | 12 |
2023 | 8 |
2022 | 12 |
2021 | 23 |
2020 | 27 |
2019 | 28 |
2018 | 33 |
2017 | 66 |
Stage-wise distribution of Autonomous Vehicles sector companies in United States
Out of the total 454 Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States, 238 have secured funding. Among them, 155 have reached Series A or higher, and 133 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 454
Funded - 238
Series A+ - 155
Series B+ - 133
Series C+ - 111
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 454 |
Funded | 238 |
Series A+ | 155 |
Series B+ | 133 |
Series C+ | 111 |
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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 $60.8B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding has been in 2026 at more than $17.5B till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $17.5B |
2025 | $2.7B |
2024 | $6.74B |
2023 | $2.19B |
2022 | $3.51B |
2021 | $8.35B |
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 September 2026, Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States have raised $17.4B in equity funding across 19 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till August 2025), Autonomous Vehicles companies in United States had raised $1.86B across 21 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 831.91% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series B | 7160 | Sep 26, 2026 | ||
Series A | 5478 | Sep 15, 2026 | ||
Series D | 3095 | Aug 25, 2026 | ||
Series D | 4449 | Aug 19, 2026 | and 3 more | |
Seed | 3977 | Aug 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) | ||
Mountain View (United States) | ||
Los Altos (United States) |
M&A activity in Autonomous Vehicles sector in United States
In the year 2026, till August 2026, 4 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 | Aug 10, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | May 27, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Apr 19, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Feb 25, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Dec 15, 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 | 4 |
2025 | 4 |
2024 | 3 |
2023 | 6 |
2022 | 4 |
2021 | 14 |
2020 | 5 |
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 | 26 |
Stanford University | 21 |
Carnegie Mellon University | 19 |
University of California (Berkeley) | 11 |
University of California (Los Angeles) | 7 |
University of Pennsylvania | 5 |
Cornell University | 4 |
Harvard University | 4 |
Wharton School | 4 |
Tsinghua University | 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 | $10.3B |
Carnegie Mellon University | $7.29B |
Stanford University | $3.36B |
Tsinghua University | $2.36B |
Shanghai Jiao Tong University | $1.38B |
Harvard University | $1.25B |
Harvard Business School | $1.2B |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $1.2B |
University of Pennsylvania | $498M |
University of California (Berkeley) | $478M |
Top News in Autonomous Vehicles in United States
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Guident and Florida State College at Jacksonville Launch Autonomous Mobility Training CenterGlobeNewswire•Aug 27, 2026•Guident
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Velodyne MiniVee X Subwoofer Now Available with Transparent Acrylic EnclosureBasic Tutorials•Aug 25, 2026•Velodyne Lidar
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Serve Robotics Partners with Grubhub, Expands Markets, and Launches New Products Including Moxi 2.0 RobotRoboticstomorrow•Aug 17, 2026•Grubhub, Serve Robotics, Serve, Wonder and 1 other
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