The autonomous vehicles industry reached a turning point in the 2020s. What was once experimental is now entering commercial use, with market valuations reaching $68 billion depending on methodology.
Discover self-driving cars stats that outline the current state of deployment, safety, adoption, regulation, and economic impact.
Global market overview shows an increasing growth trajectory
The global autonomous car market is expanding rapidly; however, measurement approaches lead to significant variations in reported size. Projections from consulting firms suggest the potential for trillion-dollar growth by 2030, while company funding patterns show both optimism and consolidation in the autonomous vehicles industry.
- Market size in 2024
- Forecasts
- ~$2 trillion in 2023 to $14 trillion by 2030 (32% CAGR).3
Adoption rates reveal rapid commercial deployment scaling
Adoption data indicate that autonomous driving is transitioning from pilot projects to early commercial deployment. California remains the testing hub for automated driving systems, while companies like Waymo and Tesla demonstrate leadership in driverless operation and cumulative miles driven. Most vehicles today still rely on advanced driver assistance systems rather than full automation.
- Testing in California according to the California DMV4
- 4.5 million test miles in 2024 (down from 9.06 million in 2023).
- 3.95 million miles with safety drivers.
- 552,895 miles fully driverless.
- 11 of 31 permit holders conducted tests.
- Waymo’s fleet5
- More than 2,000 robotaxis in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta.
- Planned growth to 3,500 vehicles by 2026.
- Tesla’s Full Self-Driving6
- 3.6 billion cumulative miles by March 2025.
- 2.16 billion miles driven in 2024.
- Around 400,000 active users in the U.S. and Canada.
- Average of 14.7 million miles daily.
- Automation levels7
- Level 2+ systems: 20% of sales in 2024, projected 30% by 2027
- Level 3: less than 2% expected by 2026
- Level 4: projected 6% of light vehicles by 2035
Public perception shows cautious optimism
Consumer trust in self-driving cars is growing gradually. Younger generations show greater acceptance of driverless cars, while willingness to pay for autonomous vehicle technology highlights interest in full automation among certain groups. However, concerns about cost, privacy, and road safety remain high.
- Willingness to ride: 37% of Americans in 2024, according to Statista.
- Willingness to pay according to McKinsey8
- Two-thirds of interested customers are willing to pay $10,000 for a Level 4 highway pilot.
- Average premium: ~12% over current budgets.
- 25% unwilling to pay any premium.
Economic impact projections show massive disruption potential
Economic projections show both risks and opportunities. Millions of driving-related jobs may be displaced by fully autonomous vehicles with AI capabilities, while new roles in technology and artificial intelligence are expected to emerge. The global autonomous car market offers significant revenue opportunities in both passenger and freight applications.
- Jobs according to World Economic Forum9
- 5 million U.S. jobs at risk, including 3.5 million truck drivers.
- Net global decline of 5 million jobs by 2030.
- Offset by 170 million new jobs globally by 2030.
- Market size and revenue according to McKinsey
- $300–400 billion revenue potential in passenger cars by 2035.
- $405 billion additional opportunity in autonomous trucking.
Technological development metrics highlight advancement
Testing and funding data demonstrate rapid growth in autonomous driving technology. Tesla and Waymo lead in terms of millions of miles driven and simulation testing, while major funding rounds demonstrate continued investor confidence in autonomous vehicle companies.
- Testing activity: California: 4.5 million test miles in 2024 (down from 9 million in 2023) according to the California DMV.
The regulation and policy landscape evolves
Policy activity reveals governments striking a balance between economic opportunities and the need for road safety. The U.S., EU, and Asia-Pacific countries are issuing grants, setting liability requirements, and updating product liability laws to prepare for the increasing number of self-driving cars on the road.
- Regulatory landscape
- 50+ countries drafting AV laws according to the European Commission.10
- New AV laws in Alabama, Kentucky, South Dakota, California, and Washington, D.C., according to the California DMV.
- Liability and safety requirements
- California: $5 million coverage for testing manufacturers, according to the California DMV.
- Germany: Mandatory coverage for Level 4 and above by 2025, according to the European Commission.
- France: Black-box recorders will be required in AVs from 2025, according to the European Commission.
Environmental impact
Academic studies suggest that autonomous vehicle technology has strong potential to support sustainability goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, rebound effects from increased self-driving vehicles could offset some of these benefits. Connected driving, eco-driving, and platooning improve fuel consumption and reduce traffic jams.
- Emission reduction potential
- Comparison of EVs vs ICE
- Autonomous EV taxis emit 87–94% less than 2014 gasoline cars, according to PubMed.
- AV EVs emit ~8% more than non-AV EVs due to rebound effects.13
Future projections
Forecasts from McKinsey indicate steady increases in conditional automation, with Level 3 pilots anticipated in the near term and full automation expected to emerge in later decades.
- By 2025–2027: Level 3 highway pilots are expected to be operational in Europe and North America.
- By 2035–2040: 60% of new vehicles expected to have Level 3+ automation.
Notable milestones
Milestones from leading technology companies demonstrate how driverless operations are scaling into real-world use cases. Waymo, Tesla, Baidu Apollo, Aurora, Zoox, and GM each provide evidence of commercial readiness or restructuring in the autonomous vehicles industry.
- Waymo14
- 5+ million rides completed by 2025.
- 250,000 weekly trips across 500 square miles.
- 100 million autonomous miles by July 2025.
- Tesla15
- 9 billion Autopilot miles logged.
- 1.6 billion cumulative FSD Supervised miles by mid-2024.
- One crash per ~6–8 million miles with Autopilot.
- Aurora: Began commercial driverless trucking in Texas in 2025.16
- Zoox: Launched 50 robotaxis in Las Vegas in 2025.17
Reference Links
Cem's work has been cited by leading global publications including Business Insider, Forbes, Washington Post, global firms like Deloitte, HPE and NGOs like World Economic Forum and supranational organizations like European Commission. You can see more reputable companies and resources that referenced AIMultiple.
Throughout his career, Cem served as a tech consultant, tech buyer and tech entrepreneur. He advised enterprises on their technology decisions at McKinsey & Company and Altman Solon for more than a decade. He also published a McKinsey report on digitalization.
He led technology strategy and procurement of a telco while reporting to the CEO. He has also led commercial growth of deep tech company Hypatos that reached a 7 digit annual recurring revenue and a 9 digit valuation from 0 within 2 years. Cem's work in Hypatos was covered by leading technology publications like TechCrunch and Business Insider.
Cem regularly speaks at international technology conferences. He graduated from Bogazici University as a computer engineer and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Be the first to comment
Your email address will not be published. All fields are required.