We recently compiled a list of the 11 Best Self-Driving Car Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ:AUR) stands against the other self-driving car stocks.

The term “self-driving car stocks” describes publicly traded businesses engaged in creating, manufacturing, or using autonomous vehicle technology. These businesses either directly contribute to the development of self-driving systems or offer crucial parts and services to the autonomous driving industry.

The autonomous vehicle market is booming. Grand View Research estimates that the global market for autonomous vehicles was worth $68.09 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% from 2025 to 2030. The industry is driven by the significant demand for tech adoption by customers, road safety, connectivity, advancements in AI, and sensor technology. In 2024, the passenger vehicle segment led the industry and accounted for 69% of the global revenue. The North American autonomous vehicle market dominated the global market with a share of over 37.1% in 2024.

On the other hand, according to Goldman Sachs Research, Level 3 autonomous cars, which permit hands-off, eyes-off driving in some situations, might make up as much as 10% of new cars sold globally by 2030, down from a previous estimate of 12%. It is anticipated that level 4 fully autonomous vehicles will account for 2.5% of sales, up from 3.5% in the past. Vehicles classified as Level 2 and Level 2+, which need to be supervised, are projected to rise from 20% at present to 30% by 2027. Adoption is expected to speed up due to AI advancements and declining hardware prices, notwithstanding delays caused by technological, legislative, and business model obstacles. By 2030, a market for robotaxis valued at over $25 billion would develop, driven by commercial AV fleets. By 2030, the cost of an AV mile might be less than $1, and by 2040, it could be $0.58. Long-term, AVs may account for 60% of new light vehicle sales worldwide by 2040, with China dominating (90%), followed by Europe (80%), and the United States (65%).

As per S&P Global’s report, the industry’s focus on self-driving cars has changed from lofty Level 5 autonomy to practical, incremental applications. Tech firms and manufacturers came together at CES 2025 with realistic objectives, especially in the area of Level 4 autonomy. Companies increasingly prefer deployable technology, such as ride-hailing services and automated shuttles, above completely autonomous personal vehicles. Leading this shift is Waymo, which reports more than 4 million trips overall and 150,000 paid rides weekly. It displayed new Hyundai and Zeekr automobiles, growing its business in additional American cities and adjusting to local laws. These actions show ride-hailing’s scalability in light of the present limitations.

Meanwhile, conventional automakers showcased autonomous shuttle concepts, while Level 2+ and Level 3 ADAS systems continue to be used in consumer vehicles. As startups with specialized inventions, like AI chips or sensor software, work with larger companies that have the resources and manufacturing capacity, partnerships are growing. Smaller players struggle to operate on their own because of high R&D expenses and regulatory complexity. As the market transitions from hype to practical implementation, Level 4 geo-fenced applications and delivery systems are expected to be the next big thing. The autonomous future is increasingly defined by gradual, cooperative progress rather than disruptive leaps.

Methodology

For this list, we thoroughly reviewed reputable sources and compiled an initial list of 20 self-driving stocks. Then we selected the 11 stocks that had the highest upside potential as of April 22, 2025. We have only included stocks in our list with an upside potential of 14% or higher. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the upside potential.

Note: Not every company included in the list is solely focused on self-driving technology. Some of the stocks highlighted below are involved indirectly by investing in businesses that specialize in autonomous driving.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ:AUR)

Analysts’ Upside Potential as of April 22: 36.27%

Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ:AUR) provides self-driving technology in a safe, efficient, and widely accessible manner. The Aurora Driver is a self-driving system that can drive a variety of vehicles, including ride-hailing passenger cars and freight-hauling trucks. It serves as the foundation for its transportation and ride-hailing driver-as-a-service offerings, Aurora Horizon and Aurora Connect. The company is working on the Aurora Driver, an innovative and expandable set of data services, software, and hardware for self-driving cars that can be used as a platform to adapt to and work with different kinds of vehicles and applications. Hence, it is one of the Best Autonomous Driving Stocks.

Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ:AUR) plans to commercially introduce its self-driving technology, beginning with the Dallas to Houston route. The firm claims that its vehicles achieved an Autonomy Readiness Measure score of 99% throughout rigorous testing, which included lengthy travels. The degree to which the business’s self-driving system is prepared to drive trucks on its own is measured by the ARM score. Regarding finances, the business anticipates making mid-single-digit million dollars this year. Additionally, the business aims to generate a gross profit in 2026.

TD Cowen increased Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ:AUR)’s price objective from $4 to $5. When management released the initial 2025 revenue projection of mid-single-digit millions, the company revised its model in response to Q4 results.

Overall, AUR ranks 4th among the best self-driving car stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of AUR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AUR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.