From long-haul trucking to last-mile delivery, these companies are revolutionizing how we think about mobility and logistics. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most promising autonomous vehicle startups that are making waves in the industry. These companies are not only developing cutting-edge technologies, but also addressing unique challenges in specific niches of transportation. Whether it’s navigating off-road terrains, reimagining urban mobility, or transforming freight logistics, these self driving car startups are at the forefront of shaping the future of autonomous transportation.
Best Autonomous Car Startups to Follow
Every year, new startups pull to the forefront of their industry through exciting innovations and industry-disrupting business models. We’ve rounded up the most exciting autonomous car startups of 2024 that startup-lovers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs should follow.
Disclaimer: With so many exciting self driving car startups launching and growing worldwide, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups that are listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.
1. Ride Vision
- Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
- Founder(s): Uri Lavi, Lior Cohen
- Founded In: 2018
- Funding: Series A, $9.5 Million
- Investors Include: YL Ventures, Mobilion Ventures, Coloured Ties Capital
Motorcycle safety meets machine learning with Ride Vision’s innovative autonomous driving software that provides any motorcycle with Predictive Vision and enhanced visibility and safety features.
2. EasyMile
- Location: Toulouse, France
- Founder(s): Gilbert Gagnaire, Philippe Ligier
- Founded In: 2014
- Funding: Series B, $102 Million
- Investors Include: McWin Partners, Searchlight Capital Partners, NextStage AM
EasyMile develops driverless mobility solutions with innovative technologies that prioritize safety in tandem with city authorities, airports, and universities to bring self driving vehicle capabilities to a larger percentage of the population.
3. Nuro
- Location: Silicon Valley (Mountain View, California)
- Founder(s): Jiajun Zhu, Dr. Dave Ferguson
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series D, $2.13 Billion
- Investors Include: Greylock Partners, SoftBank Vision Fund, Tiger Global Management
Nuro is a leading self driving vehicle company that operates a fleet of autonomous vehicles developed for delivery, arming small businesses with affordable, safe delivery alternatives.
4. May Mobility
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Founder(s): Dr. Edwin Olson, Dr. Steve Vozar, Alisyn Malek
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: Series D, $307 Million
- Investors Include: State Farm Ventures, Cyrus Capital Partners, Toyota Ventures
May Mobility is a sustainability-focused self driving car startup working to develop and implement fleets of autonomous vehicles to provide an alternative to traditional shuttle services.
5. Beep
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Founder(s): Kevin Reid, Mark Reid
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Series A, $50.8 Million
- Investors Include: TDF Ventures, Blue Lagoon Capital, ABS Capital Partners
Beep focuses on deploying and managing autonomous shuttles for public transportation and private communities. The company provides turnkey solutions for autonomous mobility services, including planning, deployment, and ongoing operations. Beep has partnered with several autonomous vehicle manufacturers and successfully launched autonomous shuttle services in various locations across the United States.
6. Plus
- Location: Silicon Valley, California
- Founder(s): David Liu, Shawn Kerrigan, Hao Zheng, Tim Daly
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series C, $529 Million
- Investors Include: Platinum Capital VC, ClearVue Partners, FountainVest Partners
Plus (formerly Plus.ai) is a self driving truck company that specializes in developing autonomous technology for long-haul trucking. The company has partnered with major truck manufacturers to integrate its autonomous driving system, PlusDrive, into existing truck models. Plus aims to improve fuel efficiency, enhance safety, and address the shortage of truck drivers in the logistics industry.
7. Overland AI
- Location: Seattle, Washington
- Founder(s): Byron Boots, Stephanie Bonk, Greg Okopal
- Founded In: 2022
- Funding: Seed, $10.1 Million
- Investors Include: Point72 Ventures, Cubit Capital, Voyager Capital
Overland AI is developing autonomous driving systems for off-road vehicles and heavy equipment. The company’s technology aims to improve safety and efficiency in industries like mining, construction, and agriculture. Overland AI focuses on creating robust artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that can navigate challenging terrains and environments where traditional autonomous systems struggle.
8. AutoX
- Location: San Jose, California
- Founder(s): Dr. Jianxiong Xiao
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series A, $124 Million
- Investors Include: Gobi Partners, Camford Capital, Forest Partners
AutoX is a self driving car startup leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to provide widespread access to mobility alternatives through AI drivers.
9. Vay
- Location: Berlin, Germany
- Founder(s): Thomas Von Der Ohe, Fabrizio Scelsi, Bogdan Djukic,
- Founded In: 2018
- Funding: Series B, $125 Million
- Investors Include: Invested, Coatue Management, Eurazeo
Vay is developing a unique approach to autonomous vehicles called “teledriving.” The company’s system allows remote human drivers to operate vehicles from a distance, using cameras and sensors, with the goal of transitioning to full autonomy over time. Vay aims to offer a car-sharing service where vehicles can be summoned and driven to the user’s location remotely before being used as a traditional rental car.
10. Intramotev
- Location: St. Louis, Missouri
- Founder(s): Dr. Timothy Luchini, Alexander Peiffer, Corey Vasel
- Founded In: 2020
- Funding: Series A, $20.8 Million
- Investors Include: Advantage Capital, Alpaca VC, Alumni Ventures
Intramotev focuses on developing autonomous rail vehicles for short-haul freight transportation. The company’s technology aims to revolutionize the rail industry by creating self driving rail cars that can operate independently, without the need for a locomotive. Intramotev’s solution is designed to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide more flexible freight transportation options for short distances — particularly in areas where traditional rail infrastructure may be limited or underutilized.
