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Navigant Research Names Waymo, GM Cruise, and Ford Autonomous Vehicles the Leading Companies Developing Automated Driving Systems


Market players continue to grapple with technology issues while finetuning business models

March 19, 2019 – Boulder, CO – A new Leaderboard Report from Navigant Researchexamines the strategy and execution of 20 companies developing automated driving systems, with Waymo, GM Cruise, and Ford Autonomous Vehicles ranked as the leading market players.

During 2018, several companies began providing revenue-generating automated mobility services, yet the industry also saw the first fatal accident with a developmental automated vehicle, along with multiple crashes involving partially automated vehicles. In 2019, market players continue to grapple with technology issues while finetuning business models, with just a handful of players leading the way. Click to tweet: According to a new Leaderboard report from @NavigantRSRCH, Waymo, GM Cruise, and Ford Autonomous Vehicles are the leading companies developing automated driving systems.

“Currently, all automated driving market players have one thing in common: no company is providing commercial services without a human safety operator onboard the vehicle when carrying passengers,” says Sam Abuelsamid, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “The leading companies, however, are working to develop suitable business models in conjunction with the core technology development, and remain most likely to succeed in commercializing automated driving without squandering enormous investments in R&D.”

While work has progressed on many fronts in validating automated driving technology, engineers and developers are realizing it may be many years before they can ensure the stability of the technology. Key obstacles include predicting other road user behavior and function during poor weather.

The report, Navigant Research Leaderboard: Automated Driving Vehicles, examines the strategy and execution of 20 leading automated driving system companies. These players are rated on 10 criteria: vision; go-to market strategy; partners; production strategy; technology; sales, marketing, and distribution; product capability; product quality and reliability; product portfolio; and staying power. Using Navigant Research’s proprietary Leaderboard methodology, vendors are profiled, rated, and ranked with the goal of providing industry participants with an objective assessment of these companies’ relative strengths and weaknesses in the global automated driving market. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

About Navigant Research

Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of Navigant, provides market research and benchmarking services for rapidly changing and often highly regulated industries. In the energy sector, Navigant Research focuses on in-depth analysis and reporting about global clean technology markets. The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of clean, intelligent, mobile, and distributed energy. Additional information about Navigant Research can be found at www.navigantresearch.com.

About Navigant

Navigant Consulting, Inc. is a specialized, global professional services firm that helps clients take control of their future. Navigant’s professionals apply deep industry knowledge, substantive technical expertise, and an enterprising approach to help clients build, manage and/or protect their business interests. With a focus on markets and clients facing transformational change and significant regulatory or legal pressures, the firm primarily serves clients in the healthcare, energy, and financial services industries. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and technology/analytics services, Navigant’s practitioners bring sharp insight that pinpoints opportunities and delivers powerful results. More information about Navigant can be found at navigant.com.