The 10 Biggest Tech Companies Disrupting Autonomous Driving

The world’s biggest Tech Companies, including Amazon, Apple and Microsoft, together with Chinese Majors Alibaba, Baidu, Huawei and others, are expanding their presence in the automotive industry to monetize the capability gap of existing Tier-1s in Software, AI, and data needed for Autonomous Mobility. They are also supporting the digitalization transformation of major carmakers and suppliers.

As the value creation in Mobility shifts from hardware to software, this expansion threatens major Tier-1 Suppliers Bosch, Continental and others, who still maintain the lion’s share in the radars and cameras for ADAS, but need to transform quickly to the needs of Autonomous Mobility to maintain their position in the market.

This report examines the capabilities of the 10 biggest Tech Companies in Autonomous Driving and their potential to capture a share in rising new business models in Autonomous Mobility.

1. Alibaba
2. Amazon
3. Apple
4. Baidu
5. Huawei
6. Intel
7. Microsoft
8. Samsung
9. Sony
10. Tencent

Tech Companies are building capabilities to become the new, core Suppliers of Autonomous Driving

• Alibaba – the Chinese e-commerce giant – has formed an EV joint venture with SAIC, while Didi Chuxing – the Chinese ride-hailing provider – has partnered with automaker BYD in D1 development – an electric vehicle specifically designed for ride-hailing services. Cooperation between carmakers, high-tech companies and telecommunications service providers has spawned a number of startups, which have already offered experimental services in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha and Hunan.
• Baidu expects to supply self-driving system Apollo to 1 million cars in 3-5 years
• Huawei has recently launched new products in Autonomous Driving focusing on ADAS sensors (4D imaging radar), HMI (AR-HUD) during their product launch titled ‘Focused Innovation for Intelligent Vehicles’. 
• Samsung Electronics will work together with Tesla to develop chips for their next-gen HW 4.0 for autonomous driving.

Read our report to understand how the products and services of Tech Companies and their outlook in the Autonomous Driving market.

To learn about the outlook of today’s major Tier-1 Suppliers of ADAS, including Bosch, Continental, Valeo and others, read our report: ADAS Suppliers Rankings & Market Shares.

Key opportunities for Tech Companies in Autonomous Driving

We identify a number of opportunities for Tech Companies to enter or disrupt the existing supply chain.

1. Next-gen Perception Hardware for Autonomous Driving: imaging radars, advanced cameras and lidar for L3-5 Autonomous Driving
2. Software: chips for Autonomous Driving
3. AI: From AI for AD to AI for HMI such as in-car AI assistants
4. Data-based Mobility Business models such as in-car e-commerce
5. Connectivity: 5G, Connected Infrastructure and Smart Cities
6. Autonomous Shared Mobility:  AMoD / robotaxis, autonomous deliveries