The automotive industry is undergoing a major shift, with 64 private companies leading the charge. This transformation is driven by advances in autonomous driving, electric vehicles, and smart technology.
Self-driving technology companies like Waymo and Cruise lead the pack with valuations of $45B and $30B, respectively. The list also includes newcomers such as Yinwang Smart Technology, which reached a $16B valuation in its first year.
Below is the full list of 64 Automotive unicorn startups at this time.
Top 10 Most Valuable Automotive Unicorns
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1,600+ Unicorns
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Get the Sheet for $50Waymo develops autonomous driving technology to make transportation safer and more accessible for both people and goods. Their system powers the Waymo One ride-hailing service in several US cities and a separate solution for trucking and logistics.
| Valuation | $45B |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2009 |
| Founders | Anthony Levandowski, Sebastian Thrun |
| Funding Amount | $11.1B |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Fidelity, Tiger Global Management, Temasek Holdings, Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz |
Cruise develops all-electric, self-driving vehicles designed to navigate complex urban environments. Their autonomous ride-hail service provides passengers with driverless transportation in major cities.
| Valuation | $30B |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Daniel Kan, Kyle Vogt |
| Funding Amount | $16B |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | General Motors, Y Combinator, SV Angel, Spark Capital, Founder Collective |
Yinwang Smart Technology develops AI-driven components for the automotive sector. The firm specializes in creating the underlying technology for advanced driver-assistance systems and intelligent vehicle functions.
| Valuation | $16B |
| Headquarters | Shenzhen, Guangdong, China |
| Year Founded | 2024 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | CN¥23B |
| Company Size | No Data |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Avatr, Seres Group |
GAC Aion New Energy Automobile develops and produces electric vehicles for the consumer market. Their work centers on creating new energy products and services that accelerate the adoption of clean transportation.
| Valuation | $14B |
| Headquarters | Guangzhou, Guangdong, China |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | CN¥18.3B |
| Company Size | No Data |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | GoldStone Investment, Yingke Capital, Shenzhen Capital Group, China Southern Power Grid, Guangzhou Automobile Group |
AESC develops and manufactures lithium-ion batteries designed to power electric vehicles and energy storage systems. They are a key battery technology partner for major automakers, helping to accelerate the global shift toward electrification.
| Valuation | $10B |
| Headquarters | Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Year Founded | 2007 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $1.4B |
| Company Size | Enterprise Organization (5,001+) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, National Wealth Fund, European Commission, Nissan Motor |
Chehaoduo built Guazi.com, an online car trading platform that directly connects individual sellers and buyers in China. They use a direct sales model to remove intermediaries, making the process of buying or selling a used car simpler and more transparent.
| Valuation | $10B (Joined March 2016) |
| Headquarters | Beijing, Beijing, China |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Mark Yang |
| Funding Amount | $3.8B |
| Company Size | Enterprise Organization (5,001+) |
| Last Funding Status | Series E |
| Top Investors | HSG, IDG Capital, Matrix Partners China, Sequoia Capital, Tencent |
Mahindra Electric Automobile designs and manufactures a new generation of electric SUVs for the passenger market. These vehicles are built on the company's modular INGLO platform, which emphasizes advanced design and performance.
| Valuation | $10B |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Year Founded | 1994 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | ₹31.3B |
| Company Size | Enterprise Organization (5,001+) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | British International Investment, Temasek Holdings |
Mahindra Electric Automobile builds a new generation of electric passenger vehicles, with a portfolio focused on SUVs. Their "Born Electric" lineup is engineered on the modular INGLO platform, a flexible architecture that forms the foundation for their future models.
| Valuation | $9B |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Year Founded | 2022 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | ₹38.5B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Undisclosed |
| Top Investors | British International Investment, Mahindra & Mahindra |
As the electric vehicle arm of Tata Motors, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility develops a range of passenger EVs designed for the Indian market. They are driving the country's shift to electric transportation with a portfolio that includes some of India's most popular electric cars.
| Valuation | $9B |
| Headquarters | Andheri, Maharashtra, India |
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | ₹75B |
| Company Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | TPG Rise Climate Fund |
AutoStore provides a high-density, cube-based automated storage and retrieval system for warehouse fulfillment. Their robots travel over a grid structure to retrieve products stored in bins below, significantly increasing storage density and operational speed.
| Valuation | $8B |
| Headquarters | Vatne, More og Romsdal, Norway |
| Year Founded | 1997 |
| Founders | Ingvar Hognaland |
| Funding Amount | $2.8B |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | — |
| Top Investors | SoftBank |
The Remaining 54 Automotive Unicorns
The ten most valuable companies get a lot of headlines, but they're only part of the story. While many of these unicorns are based in China and the United States, founders are building them everywhere from Brazil to Croatia. Together, these companies are changing how we buy, power, and even think about cars. Here’s a look at the rest of the unicorn startups shaping the automotive industry.
