In the U.S., a handful of companies lead the charge toward fully autonomous (Level 4 and 5) vehicles. Here’s a breakdown of the key players shaping this space, and how far along they really are.
But First, What Does Level 4 or 5 Mean?
Level 4 autonomy: The vehicle can drive itself in certain conditions or defined areas with no human intervention.
Level 5 autonomy: The vehicle can drive itself anywhere, anytime, in all weather conditions, with no steering wheel or pedals.
As of 2025, no company has achieved Level 5 autonomy. However, several have launched commercial Level 4 services, especially for ride-hailing and freight.
1. Waymo: The Pioneer
- Founded: 2009 (as part of Google)
- HQ: Mountain View, CA
- Vehicles: Chrysler Pacifica minivans, Jaguar I-Pace SUVs
Waymo is the most advanced AV company today. Its “Waymo One” service offers fully driverless rides in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. And just around the corner they hope to launch in Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C. These are Level 4 robotaxis operating with no safety driver. Waymo cars use lidar, radar, and cameras, plus HD maps and AI to make real-time driving decisions.
Today, Waymo One provides more than 200,000 fully autonomous paid trips each week. Its success is built on over 20 million miles driven autonomously and a conservative, safety-first approach.
2. Cruise: Backed by GM, Hit by Setbacks
- Founded: 2013
- HQ: San Francisco, CA
- Vehicles: Modified Chevy Bolt EVs
Cruise, owned by General Motors, was the first to launch public robotaxi rides in San Francisco. It began offering limited driverless rides in 2022, and in 2023 received approval to operate and charge for 24/7 rides citywide.
However, after a serious incident in late 2023 involving a pedestrian, California suspended Cruise’s driverless permit. The company paused operations nationwide and scaled back its ambitions. GM is now integrating Cruise’s tech into its consumer vehicles as driver assistance, with robotaxi expansion largely on hold.
3. Zoox: Amazon’s Custom-Built Robotaxi
- Founded: 2014
- HQ: Foster City, CA
- Vehicle: A bespoke, bidirectional AV with no steering wheel
Zoox, acquired by Amazon in 2020, is building its own fully autonomous vehicles from scratch, as opposed to retrofitting existing vehicles. The vehicle seats four passengers facing each other and can drive equally well in either direction.
In 2023, Zoox began testing these vehicles on public roads with no driver at its HQ. Later expanding into Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Though not yet offering rides to the public, it expects to launch a commercial robotaxi service before the end of 2025. Zoox’s design is arguably the boldest and has many excited about the possibilities.
4. Aurora: Leading in Autonomous Trucking
- Founded: 2017
- HQ: Pittsburgh, PA
- Focus: Long-haul freight and highway autonomy
Aurora is taking a different route by focusing on freight. Its “Aurora Driver” is installed on Class 8 trucks from Peterbilt and Volvo. The company began running fully driverless freight between Dallas and Houston in 2025.
Aurora’s goal is to commercialize long-haul autonomous trucking first – where routes are more predictable, then move into robotaxis using Toyota Siennas. The company has also tested its tech in city settings but remains freight-first for now.
Other Companies to Watch
While not leading the public rollout, several other companies are quietly pushing boundaries in the AV space:
Pony.ai
A Chinese-founded AV company with dual headquarters in California and China. It was one of the first startups to be granted a permit to test fully driverless vehicles in California. However, after a minor accident in 2021, its driverless permit was suspended. It has since resumed testing with safety drivers and continues to develop technology for both U.S. and Chinese markets.
Pony.ai also has partnerships with automakers like Toyota, and has received regulatory approval to operate commercial robotaxi services in parts of China. In the U.S., its presence remains more research-oriented than consumer-facing.
AutoX
Another Chinese AV company backed by Alibaba, AutoX operates in both China and the U.S. In California, AutoX was granted a driverless testing permit for limited use in San Jose.
Although it hasn’t launched a commercial service in the U.S., it was among the first to operate fully driverless robotaxis in China, particularly in Shenzhen. AutoX’s U.S. operations are minimal compared to its aggressive rollout in Asia, but it remains a notable global contender.
Motional
A joint venture between originally between Hyundai and Aptiv, although Aptiv has since dropped out. It had partnered with ride-hailing services like Lyft to offer autonomous rides with safety drivers in Las Vegas.
Motional used modified Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles equipped with lidar and radar, aiming to launch a fully driverless commercial service in partnership with Lyft and Uber.
As of now, Motional has paused operations due to economic factors but states they are committed to returning to the market once necessary refinements have been made.
Nuro
Nuro originally focused on delivery. Its small, pod-like vehicles were built to deliver groceries, food, and packages autonomously. Nuro has partnered with companies like Domino’s and Kroger and operated in states like Texas and California. As of now, however, Nuro has stated a shift in strategy, with a desire to focus on licensing autonomy tech.
Tesla Has A Different Approach…
Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) system is controversial. It’s widely available in Tesla vehicles but is officially only Level 2, meaning the human must stay alert and ready to take over. Despite the name, FSD is not full autonomy.
Tesla’s approach relies heavily on vision (cameras only) and neural networks, rather than lidar and HD maps. Elon Musk claims that software improvements will eventually unlock Level 4/5 capabilities in existing cars. As of writing, no Tesla operates without a driver, but that may change soon.
Interestingly, Tesla has done what others on this list may have struggled with: make money in the autonomous industry. Customers of Tesla have been eager to pay $15,000 for the FSD system upgrade to their vehicle. As players like Nuro and Motional have had to recalibrate, Tesla has turned ideas into profit.
Autonomous vehicles are no longer science fiction.
In Phoenix, San Francisco, and LA, you can ride in a car with no driver. Companies like Waymo are leading the pack, while others like Zoox and Aurora are close behind in their specialized niches.
Challenges remain – from regulatory approval to public trust. But real progress is being made. Fully driverless vehicles are here in select cities, and broader rollout may not be far behind. If you have the opportunity, try a ride in one of these vehicles. The future of transportation can be fun!
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