Private equity investment in autonomous vehicles hits $23.26B in early 2026, a decade high.

Global private equity investment in autonomous vehicles surged to $23.26 billion in the first four months of 2026, the highest level in at least 10 years. This figure more than doubles the total $10.18 billion invested throughout all of 2025. The number of deals also rose significantly, with 54 transactions recorded in early 2026, accounting for about 31% of the 172 deals made in 2025. The surge was driven by a major funding round for self-driving car company Waymo LLC, signaling strong investor confidence in the autonomous vehicle sector's growth potential.