Navigant Research Names GM, Waymo as Leaders in Autonomous Segment
【Summary】Other top-rated automakers on the list include: Daimler-Bosch, Ford, Volkswagen Group, BMW-Intel-FCA, and Aptiv.

It really does seem like every single automaker out there is working on autonomous technology. Self-driving cars are expected to revolutionize the automotive industry and no one wants to fall behind. Even high-performance automakers like McLaren see autonomous technology as a major part of its future.
There are a few companies, though, that are currently in the lead when it comes to autonomous vehicles. Navigant Research, a market research and consulting team, recently named its top ranking companies leading the way forward in the autonomous scene.
General Motors And Waymo Lead The Way
General Motors is at the top of the list, while Waymo is closely behind in second place. These two companies managed to beat out 19 other brands that Navigant Research evaluated on 10 criteria. The criteria included: vision, partners, go-to market strategy, technology, production strategy, product quality and reliability, sales, marketing, and distribution, product capability, staying power, and product portfolio.
"There's a vast difference between developing an autonomous car as an R&D project and building one as a real product," Sam Abuelsamid, the author of the study told Design News. "Both of these companies have built in the redundancies on the compute side and on the sensor side. They're going through all the validation and failure mode analysis that you'd go through for a production car."
Interestingly, traditional automakers dominated the list. Four out of the top five companies were major auto manufacturers. Daimler-Bosch, Ford, and Volkswagen came in third, fourth, and fifth place respectively. The rest of the list – in sequential order from sixth to 10th – included BMW-Intel-FCA, Aptiv, Renault-Nissan Alliance, Volvo-Autoliv-Ericsson-Zenuity, and PSA.
GM Is Doing Everything Right
Why did GM make the top spot? According to Abuelsamid, the automaker is putting the technology directly into the hands of consumers. "All of GM's engineering teams back in Michigan are doing the same things for the autonomous Bolt as they would for any other program," he said.
After getting a lot of seat time in the Cadillac CT6 with the automaker's Super Cruise system, we have to agree that when it comes to tech that consumers can buy at the moment, GM is at the top. Waymo, though, was one of the first companies to begin testing fully-autonomous vehicles on the road and has quickly spread to more cities across the country.
Readers looking through the top 10 list will notice a glaring omission – Tesla. The brand didn't make it into the top 10 despite being one of the first on the scene with a semi-autonomous vehicle. The reason for its sub-top 10 finish is because of the brand's poor partner relationships and its lack of engineering execution.
"Their technology is behind the rest of the pack because of their insistence on not using LiDAR," said Abueslamid. "Also, they don't have redundant compute platforms. They don't have redundant software. They don't have the redundancies they need in sensing. They don't even have ways to keep the sensors clean."
Based off of Navigant Research's list, it looks like traditional automakers have found a way to combat the emergence of Silicon Valley startups.
via: Navigant Research, Design News
-
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Now PHEV Only
-
Acura Prevision EV Concept Previews Brand’s Electric Future
-
Hyundai Gets Serious About Electric Performance Cars, Shows off Two Concepts
-
Ford Looks to Have 100% of EV Sales Be Online
-
Volkswagen CEO Believes It Will Overtake Tesla in EV Sales by 2025
-
Report Claims Nissan Leaf Will Be Discontinued by 2025
-
Autonomous Vehicles Will Require Cities to Change Their Transportation Methods
-
Rivian, Mercedes-Benz Partner to Produce Electric Commercial Vans
- BMW to Test a New Battery in the iX Electric SUV Developed By Michigan Startup Our Next Energy Inc. That Can Deliver 600 Miles of Range
- Tesla’s Enhanced Autopilot Returns With Some Features From 'Full Self-Driving'
- GM's New 'Plug And Charge' Feature Will Simplify the Charging Process For its Current & Future EVs
- General Motors Announces Two Major Long-Term Supply Agreements for Enough Lithium and Cathode Material to Build 5 Million EVs
- Toyota and Stellantis to Partner on a Large Commercial Van for the European Market, Including an All-Electric Version
- Solid State Battery Startup Solid Power Completes its EV Cell Pilot Production Line
- Waymo To Partner With Uber Freight on Autonomous Logistics for the Trucking Industry
- Mercedes-Benz is Partnering with Game Engine Developer Unity Technologies to Create Immersive, 3D Infotainment Screens and Displays for its Future Vehicles
- Volvo-backed EV Battery Maker Northvolt, Founded by Former Tesla Execs, Raises Another $1.1 Billion to Help Fund its Expansion
- Toyota Offering Multiple Solutions for Non-Drivable bZ4X Electric SUVs