Top Self Driving Car Companies Revolutionizing the Mobility Vertical

Self-driving cars are referred to as automobiles which are equipped with the ability of driving themselves without human drivers. A wide array of technologies and components are integrated into these cars to ensure their reliability, accuracy, and safety.

The top self-driving car companies are-

Mercedes-Benz AG

Market Position or History

In 2021, Mercedes-Benz announced that it had acquired YASA, a UK-based manufacturer of electric motors.

Business Overview and Strategy

Established on June 26, 1926, the company has its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. It produces a wide range of cars, including sedans, SUVs, coupes, and convertibles. Mercedes-Benz has also set its foot into the self driving cars industry. The company has been working on autonomous driving technology for several years and has made significant progress in this area.

It is worth noting that it has  set a goal to become carbon-neutral by 2039, and it is making significant investments in research and development to achieve this goal.

Strengths

• It has built a strong brand reputation.
• It has a global presence with its operations in numerous nations.
• It has a strong commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint.

Weaknesses

• Its vehicles are of higher prices as compared to its competitors.
• It faces supply chain disruptions or production delays due to factors like natural disasters or global supply chain issues.

Aptiv PLC

Market Position or History

In 2020, Aptiv acquired Motional, a joint venture with Hyundai Motor Group focused on developing autonomous driving technology.

Business Overview and Strategy

Headquartered in Grand Canal Dock, Dublin Ireland, the company was established in 1994. It is known for developing and distributing vehicle components, software, and other systems for the automobile sector. It has gaining immense recognition for its automated driving, advanced safety, and user experience services for vehicles.

Aptiv is envisioned on using technology to transform the way people think about transportation and mobility.

Strengths

• It has a strong focus on advanced mobility solutions, including autonomous driving, electrification, and connectivity.
• It has a diversified product portfolio, including components, systems, and software for a range of applications.
• It showcases a strong financial performance, with consistent revenue growth and profitability in recent years.

Weaknesses

• It faces potential regulatory and legal challenges related to the development and deployment of autonomous driving technology.
• It has a limited geographic diversity.

Waymo LLC

Market Position or History

In February 2020, Waymo acquired Deepmap, a startup that specializes in creating high-definition maps for self-driving cars.

Business Overview and Strategy

Headquartered in Mountain View, California, United States, the company was established on January 17, 2009. Sebastian Thurn is the founding father of Waymo. It develops autonomous driving technology for the automobile company.

Its primarily mission is to make transportation safer, easier, and more accessible for everyone by developing fully autonomous driving technology. The company's focus is on creating a self-driving car that can safely navigate all types of roads and traffic conditions, without the need for human intervention.

Strengths

• It offers a diverse range of advanced technologies like lidar sensors, cameras, and software algorithms that enable its self-driving cars to navigate roads safely.
• It has a strong financial position.
• It has a strong brand name and is recognized as a leader in the autonomous driving space.

Weaknesses

• It faces intense competition from a growing number of companies that are also developing autonomous driving technology.
• It operates in a stringent regulatory environment.

Hyundai Motor Company

Market Position or History

In 2019, Hyundai joined forces Aptiv, a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the automotive industry.

Business Overview and Strategy

With its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, the company was established on December 29, 1967. It produces a wide range of vehicles, including cars, SUVs, and commercial vehicles. It is actively developing autonomous driving technology and has made significant investments in this field.

Hyundai Motor Company is known for its focus on sustainability and innovation. The company has invested heavily in the development of electric and hybrid vehicles, and has launched several models that have been well received by consumers and critics alike.

Strengths

• It sells its products in more than 190 countries.
• It specifically emphasizes on innovation and makes heavy R&D investments.
• It has a strong profit trajectory.

Weaknesses

• Its faces intense regulatory challenges.
• It has limited distribution network compared to some of its competitors, which can make it harder to reach customers in certain regions.

Ford Motor Company

Market Position or History

In March 2021, Ford acquired Quantum Signal AI, a Michigan-based robotics and simulation company with an aim to accelerate the development of autonomous vehicle technology.

Business Overview and Strategy

Henry Ford established in the company on June 16, 1903. Its headquarters are located in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It develops, designs, and markets a wide array of vehicles including self-driving cars.

Ford is focused on delivering high-quality, innovative products that meet the evolving needs of customers and society as a whole.

Strengths

• It is environmentally responsible in nature.
• It is known for developing high quality, safe, and reliable vehicles.
• It has a robust technology team.

Weaknesses

• It faces strict regulations in the self driving vehicles sector.
• It is vulnerable to economic instability across the key regions it operates.

A detailed assessment of the business models, products, services, and market positioning of the aforementioned players-

Company	Business Model	Products and Services	Market Positioning
Mercedes-Benz AG	Manufacturing and selling of vehicles, investing in autonomous technology	Upcoming self-driving vehicles, development of autonomous technology and mobility services	Established automotive company, focused on developing luxury autonomous vehicles and mobility services
Aptiv PLC	Development and licensing of autonomous technology, supply of vehicle components	Autonomous vehicle technology, software and hardware for autonomous vehicles	Leader in autonomous technology development and supply, focused on B2B partnerships
Waymo LLC	Technology licensing and development, fleet management	Self-driving vehicles, autonomous ride-hailing service	Market leader in autonomous technology, focused on B2B partnerships
Hyundai Motor Company	Manufacturing and selling of vehicles, investing in autonomous technology	Upcoming self-driving vehicles, development of autonomous technology and mobility services	Established automotive company, focused on developing affordable and accessible autonomous vehicles and mobility services
Ford Motor Company	Manufacturing and selling of vehicles, investing in autonomous technology and mobility	Upcoming self-driving vehicles, development of autonomous technology and mobility services	Established automotive company, focused on developing autonomous technology and mobility services for both commercial and consumer markets

Pricing Trends Assessment of Self Driving Cars Market

The self-driving car is still evolving and therefore the pricing trends for autonomous vehicles are still volatile.  As per industry experts, companies might offer autonomous technology as a premium feature on luxury vehicles with costs varying from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. But with time, the production cost for autonomous technologies and vehicles is projected to decrease which in turn might lead to a significant price reduction in autonomous vehicles.

Apart from price of the self-driving cars, various other variables will have an effect on the costs associated with autonomous vehicles. These variables consist of the cost of charging or refuelling the automobile, expenses related to maintenance and repair, rates for insurance, and any subscription services that may be offered. As autonomous technology progresses and novel business models come to fruition, it is probable that pricing within the autonomous vehicle market will continue to alter and evolve with time.