Are self-driving car stocks a good investment?

Self-driving car stocks could offer investors massive long-term growth potential as the technology revolutionizes transport. However, these investments can be risky, so it's important to evaluate your investing style and risk tolerance level before you put cash to work.

Are there ETFs that focus on self-driving cars?

Several ETFs focus on self-driving cars, including the Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ:DRIV), iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF (NYSEMKT:IDRV), and ARK Autonomous Tech & Robotics ETF (NYSEMKT:ARKQ).

Do self-driving car stocks pay dividends?

Yes, some self-driving car stocks and ETFs do pay dividends. Many pure-play self-driving companies focus on growth and reinvest profits rather than paying them out, though you can find dividend-payers in established automakers (like GM and Ford) and tech giants involved in the space (like Nvidia and Alphabet)

What’s the difference between EV stocks and self-driving car stocks?

EV stocks focus on electric vehicle manufacturing and sales, while self-driving stocks center on the technology that enables autonomy, such as AI software, sensors (lidar/radar), and chips. However, many large automakers overlap in both categories.

Are there ETFs focused on self-driving car technology?

Yes, several ETFs specifically focus on the autonomous vehicle and self-driving ecosystem, including the Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ:DRIV), the iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF (NYSEMKT:IDRV), and the ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (NYSEMKT:ARKQ).

8 Best Self-Driving Car Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Self-driving cars are a massive technological movement investors will want to participate in.

By Rachel Warren – Updated Aug 2, 2026 at 12:23 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Self-driving car stocks offer AI, chips, sensors, and cloud tech investment opportunities.
Waymo leads in paid robotaxi rides, expanding testing and operations globally.
Amazon's Zoox launched a fully driverless robotaxi service, testing in several U.S. cities.

Self-driving technology is moving from hype to real-world deployment. Advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) are now common, and companies are still racing toward broader autonomy. This trend reaches far beyond automakers.

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8 top self-driving car stocks for 2026

Self-driving systems depend on AI software, high-performance chips, sensors, and cloud infrastructure to process and learn from enormous volumes of driving data. That means investors can gain exposure to tech leaders, semiconductor firms, and legacy automakers developing next-generation driver-assistance systems. Here are several top self-driving car stocks to consider.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.	Dividend yield	Industry	Current price
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)	$4.6 trillion	0.23%	Interactive Media and Services	$375.85
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG)	$4.6 trillion	0.23%	Interactive Media and Services	$373.45
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)	$3.1 trillion	0.00%	Multiline Retail	$277.85
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)	$1.3 trillion	0.00%	Automobiles	$324.24
Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)	$5.0 trillion	0.14%	Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment	$209.96
Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM)	$159.1 billion	2.37%	Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment	$160.65
Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU)	$936.8 billion	0.06%	Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment	$895.87
General Motors (NYSE:GM)	$76.9 billion	0.75%	Automobiles	$87.11
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)	$57.5 billion	4.16%	Automobiles	$14.13

Data as of Aug 4, 2026. Showing 9 of 9 total entries.

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1. Alphabet

Alphabet -- parent organization of Google, YouTube, and myriad other tech businesses -- is one of the strongest ways to invest in autonomy because self-driving is fundamentally a data and AI problem. Google Cloud supports companies building and managing autonomy software and vehicle data pipelines.

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NASDAQ: GOOG

Alphabet

Today's Change

(0.26%) $0.98

Current Price

$373.45

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$4.6T

Day's Range

$366.16 - $375.99

52wk Range

$194.47 - $404.47

Volume

7.2M

Avg Vol

22.3M

Gross Margin

60.94%

Dividend Yield

0.23%

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NASDAQ: GOOGL

Alphabet

Today's Change

(0.63%) $2.34

Current Price

$375.85

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$4.6T

Day's Range

$367.50 - $378.09

52wk Range

$193.67 - $408.61

Volume

12.6M

Avg Vol

32.6M

Gross Margin

60.94%

Dividend Yield

0.23%

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Alphabet also owns Waymo, one of the most advanced autonomous driving efforts in the U.S. Waymo now provides more than 500,000 paid robotaxi rides per week. Waymo recently expanded its autonomous vehicle testing and is expanding operations into a growing roster of new cities, including Denver, London, and Washington, D.C.

2. Amazon

Amazon is far more than an e-commerce giant. In fact, savvy investors know that AWS (Amazon Web Services), the public cloud computing pioneer, is what really makes Amazon a highly profitable tech titan. AWS has a self-driving car segment that helps automakers and other vehicle technology companies manage their autonomous-driving data.

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NASDAQ: AMZN

Amazon

Today's Change

(-2.17%) $-6.17

Current Price

$277.85

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$3.1T

Day's Range

$275.82 - $281.07

52wk Range

$196.00 - $287.20

Volume

29.3M

Avg Vol

50.1M

Gross Margin

50.77%

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In September 2025, Amazon's Zoox officially launched its fully driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas. These robotaxis, which don't have a steering wheel or even pedals, offer rides to the public via the Zoox mobile app. Zoox also launched in San Francisco's SoMa, Mission, and Design districts in November 2025 as part of its Zoox Explorers program.

The company is testing in several other cities, including Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. Zoox has partnered with Uber (UBER +0.13%) to deploy its purpose-built, driverless robotaxis on the Uber app in Las Vegas this summer, with an expansion to Los Angeles planned for 2027. The company is actively seeking final federal safety exemptions to move from testing to commercial, paid operation.

3. Tesla

Tesla's work to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles is undeniable. However, its work on full self-driving capabilities is somewhat controversial. Every Tesla ships with Autopilot, an advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) that features adaptive cruise control and auto-steer, which keeps the car within its lane. The company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) upgrade package includes many features that still require a driver to remain alert and ready to take the wheel.

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NASDAQ: TSLA

Tesla

Today's Change

(0.67%) $2.16

Current Price

$324.24

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.3T

Day's Range

$320.79 - $326.90

52wk Range

$297.38 - $498.83

Volume

12.2M

Avg Vol

47M

Gross Margin

18.85%

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Tesla is devoting research to computer vision, which enables a computing system to see and make driving decisions using cameras. To aid in its development, Tesla is building supercomputers to train its AI algorithms. The company has hinted it might allow other self-driving car developers to use Dojo as well.

Tesla launched an invitation-only self-driving taxi service in Austin in June 2025. The service operated with Tesla employees supervising the passenger seat for safety, and it required users to book rides through a dedicated app within a specific geographic area.

In August 2025, Tesla received the necessary permits to run its ride-hailing service in Texas, another major step forward for the business. Future U.S. and international rollouts are planned for 2026, pending regulatory approvals, and Tesla robotaxis are already operating in markets such as Miami and Tampa.

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4. Nvidia

Semiconductors are the basic building blocks of all computing systems, including self-driving car technology. Nvidia is leading the charge on this front with its unique take on chip design and software.

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NASDAQ: NVDA

Nvidia

Today's Change

(1.61%) $3.32

Current Price

$209.96

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$5.0T

Day's Range

$209.05 - $212.17

52wk Range

$164.07 - $236.54

Volume

44.4M

Avg Vol

152.4M

Gross Margin

74.15%

Dividend Yield

0.14%

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Today, Nvidia has used its early learnings to launch a full-blown AV platform. It spans cloud computing services (dubbed DRIVE) to help train AI algorithms to design the hardware (DRIVE Hyperion) that will power many automakers' self-driving capabilities. Premium autos, such as Mercedes-Benz (OTC:MGBY.Y), will begin featuring Nvidia's advanced self-driving kits with the 2024 model.

5. Qualcomm

All sorts of semiconductor companies are making hay from a boom in automotive technology, but Qualcomm could be an overlooked winner. The company is known for its electronic components, which can be found in almost every smartphone.

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NASDAQ: QCOM

Qualcomm

Today's Change

(5.99%) $9.08

Current Price

$160.65

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$159B

Day's Range

$155.31 - $161.46

52wk Range

$121.99 - $259.92

Volume

3.9M

Avg Vol

21.5M

Gross Margin

54.23%

Dividend Yield

2.37%

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However, Qualcomm's specialty in mobility chips is finding new life in the auto industry. The Snapdragon Digital Chassis is an end-to-end platform that powers vehicle connectivity, computing, and ADAS. Qualcomm also acquired the self-driving car software business Arriver, formerly part of auto supplier Veoneer, to help accelerate its development of a vehicle autonomy platform.

6. Micron Technology

Memory chips have been a key ingredient in vehicles for decades. However, autonomous cars will rely on digital memory like never before. Micron is a leader in this space and is reporting rapid growth as automakers need more memory chips to enable self-driving and ADAS capabilities.

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NASDAQ: MU

Micron Technology

Today's Change

(8.00%) $66.37

Current Price

$895.87

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$937B

Day's Range

$858.50 - $896.69

52wk Range

$106.75 - $1255.00

Volume

17.4M

Avg Vol

53.5M

Gross Margin

72.60%

Dividend Yield

0.06%

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In fact, Micron thinks self-driving cars will be its top growth driver in the next few years. In addition to vehicles, cloud computing -- used to train AI software and manage vehicle fleets -- is also propelling higher demand for Micron's memory chips.

As a manufacturer, Micron is a highly cyclical semiconductor company that has historically been prone to wild swings in sales and profits. However, there is massive expansion potential in the years ahead, thanks to self-driving technology.

7. General Motors

General Motors is a legacy automaker, one of the oldest. Its brands, including Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac, are hardly a growth business. However, back in 2016, GM acquired Cruise, a leader in self-driving car technology. GM was hoping to see its Cruise Origin driverless taxi become fully operational by 2023.

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NYSE: GM

General Motors

Today's Change

(-0.65%) $-0.57

Current Price

$87.11

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$77B

Day's Range

$86.03 - $87.41

52wk Range

$52.09 - $91.85

Volume

1.6M

Avg Vol

7.9M

Gross Margin

5.74%

Dividend Yield

0.75%

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That was short-lived, as the Cruise unit suspended operations in October 2023 after a series of incidents. It returned its vehicles to public roads in May 2024. However, in December 2024, GM stopped funding its Cruise AV unit entirely, citing issues in the competitive robotaxi market and the time and resources required to scale the business.

Although the Cruise unit is no longer operational, GM is focusing on developing driver-assist and autonomous systems for personal vehicles. These systems will also be designed to drive themselves in certain situations. GM's focus on funneling its resources into advanced driver assistance systems could play an important role in the future of driverless technology.

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8. Ford

Ford is another legacy automaker, but it, too, is making big bets on the future of transportation. In 2017, it pledged $1 billion in investment funding over a five-year stretch into start-up Argo AI (in which Volkswagen (VWAGY +0.34%) is also a top investor). Ford had been partnering with Argo to launch robotaxi and driverless delivery services for companies like Walmart (NYSE:WMT) in select cities.

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NYSE: F

Ford Motor Company

Today's Change

(-2.08%) $-0.30

Current Price

$14.13

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$58B

Day's Range

$13.98 - $14.49

52wk Range

$10.90 - $17.78

Volume

19.9M

Avg Vol

64.1M

Gross Margin

8.00%

Dividend Yield

4.16%

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However, in October 2022, Ford announced that it would shut down Argo AI and focus on driver-assisted technology. Ford and Volkswagen may have determined that fully autonomous vehicles would not be profitable in the near term, while Argo had also struggled to attract new investors.

Ford BlueCruise is a hands-free driving system for pre-mapped highways that uses cameras and sensors to ensure safe navigation. Ford's Latitude AI subsidiary also develops automated driving technology, including a hands-free, eyes-off driver assist system.

How to invest in self-driving car stocks

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
Search for the self-driving car stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Benefits and risks of investing in self-driving car stocks

Benefits:

The self-driving car market is projected to expand significantly as technology matures and adoption increases.
Early investors could see substantial returns if the market projections are realized and their chosen companies capture significant market share.
Companies at the forefront of this industry are driving major technological advancements across artificial intelligence, sensor technology, and software development.
This innovation can lead to new revenue streams and applications beyond consumer cars, such as logistics, robotics, and smart city infrastructure.
Major players in the sector are not just car manufacturers; they also include tech giants and sensor companies, allowing investors to target different parts of the AV value chain, from software to hardware.

Risks:

Uncertain timelines for widespread approval and potential legal liabilities in the event of accidents pose significant risks and could slow down deployment.
The market is highly competitive, with established automakers, tech giants, and specialized start-ups all vying for dominance as hopeful long-term winners.
R&D costs are enormous, and many companies are still operating at a loss in this segment due to the significant capital investments required.
Achieving Level 4 or Level 5 full autonomy is a massive technical challenge, and ensuring systems are safe and reliable in all weather and traffic conditions is an ongoing struggle.
Any high-profile accidents could severely damage public trust and set back the entire industry.

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

We took several factors into account when compiling this list. Investing in self-driving car stocks requires one to consider the long, uncertain timeline to achieving full autonomy. While many cars have assist features, true Level 5 driverless vehicles that don't need a human are still years away due to the extreme technical difficulty of handling complex road situations. This uncertainty makes the sector highly volatile, as safety incidents or regulatory hurdles can quickly send stock prices plummeting.

You can invest in established carmakers, tech giants focused on software, or specialized suppliers that make critical hardware, such as AI chips and sensors. We did our best to ensure this list reflects this wide universe of self-driving stocks. As with all emerging technologies, self-driving cars and related transportation tech will take many years to develop. Investing in individual stocks in the self-driving vehicle industry will be highly volatile, and there's no guarantee of success.

Spread your bets across multiple companies and let their growth stories play out over the long term as this industry rapidly changes and evolves. Nevertheless, given the size of the global transportation sector and the integral role of mobility to the economy, self-driving cars could be a massive secular growth trend. Consequently, this space is worth keeping tabs on.

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The bottom line

The future outlook for self-driving cars is shifting from the expectation of immediate revolutionary change to a more gradual, incremental evolution. While fully autonomous vehicles are still years or even decades away for the average consumer, specialized sectors like autonomous trucking and urban robotaxis are leading the way.

Companies like Waymo are already expanding into major cities, and it's possible that by the beginning of the next decade, a significant portion of new trucks and ride-hailing fleets will be autonomous.

However, widespread adoption for personal use faces ongoing hurdles, including high hardware costs, the need for updated 5G infrastructure, and a complex patchwork of government regulations that must be unified before these cars become a standard sight in every driveway.

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Investing in self-driving car stocks FAQ

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About the Author

Rachel Warren is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, information technology, and consumer goods. Prior to The Motley Fool, Rachel was a paralegal and legal administrator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from Liberty University School of Law.

TMFRachelW

Rachel Warren has positions in Alphabet and Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Micron Technology, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors and Volkswagen Ag. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

8 Best Self-Driving Car Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Self-driving cars are a massive technological movement investors will want to participate in.

Key Points

8 top self-driving car stocks for 2026

1. Alphabet

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

2. Amazon

Key Data Points

3. Tesla

Key Data Points

4. Nvidia

Key Data Points

5. Qualcomm

Key Data Points

6. Micron Technology

Key Data Points

7. General Motors

Key Data Points

8. Ford

Key Data Points

How to invest in self-driving car stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in self-driving car stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

The bottom line

Related investing topics

The Largest EV Companies in 2025

Consumer and Industry Outlooks on Electric Vehicles

3 Best Self-Driving Car ETFs for 2026 and How to Invest

Automobile Trade Statistics: Imports, Exports, and American Content

Investing in self-driving car stocks FAQ

Are self-driving car stocks a good investment?

Are self-driving car stocks a good investment?

Are there ETFs that focus on self-driving cars?

Are there ETFs that focus on self-driving cars?

Do self-driving car stocks pay dividends?

Do self-driving car stocks pay dividends?

What’s the difference between EV stocks and self-driving car stocks?

What’s the difference between EV stocks and self-driving car stocks?

Are there ETFs focused on self-driving car technology?

Are there ETFs focused on self-driving car technology?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick

Premium Investing Services

Key Data Points

The Largest EV Companies in 2025

Consumer and Industry Outlooks on Electric Vehicles

3 Best Self-Driving Car ETFs for 2026 and How to Invest

Automobile Trade Statistics: Imports, Exports, and American Content

Investing in self-driving car stocks FAQ

Are self-driving car stocks a good investment?

Are self-driving car stocks a good investment?

Are there ETFs that focus on self-driving cars?

Are there ETFs that focus on self-driving cars?

Do self-driving car stocks pay dividends?

Do self-driving car stocks pay dividends?

What’s the difference between EV stocks and self-driving car stocks?

What’s the difference between EV stocks and self-driving car stocks?

Are there ETFs focused on self-driving car technology?

Are there ETFs focused on self-driving car technology?

1. Alphabet

2. Amazon

4. Nvidia

6. Micron Technology

7. General Motors

How to invest in self-driving car stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in self-driving car stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

The bottom line

Related investing topics

8 top self-driving car stocks for 2026

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points