3 Brilliant but Overlooked Driverless Vehicle Stocks to Buy and Hold for 10 Years

The driverless vehicle market is projected for substantial growth, with robotaxis alone anticipated to achieve a 90% CAGR between 2025-2030, presenting a significant investment opportunity. Key players include Mobileye Global, which is expanding its ADAS and autonomous tech partnerships despite current unprofitability, supported by a robust cash position. Aptiv PLC is strategically splitting its business by Q1 2026 to focus on its higher-margin safety and software segment, projected for strong earnings growth. Meanwhile, Hesai Group, a global leader in lidar solutions, is securing significant OEM design wins and dominating the robotics lidar market in China, positioning it for the expansion of AI-driven autonomous systems.

Analysis

The driverless vehicle market presents a significant growth opportunity, projected to reach trillions within a decade, with Goldman Sachs forecasting a 90% compound annual growth rate for robotaxis between 2025 and 2030. This expansion is driven by increasing adoption and scaling efforts by autonomous vehicle operators, with robotaxi numbers expected to surge from 1,500 to 35,000 by 2030 in the U.S. This still represents a fraction of the total rideshare market, indicating substantial long-term potential.

Mobileye Global (MBLY) is actively expanding its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies, securing strategic partnerships with OEMs like ZEEKR, Porsche, and Volkswagen. Despite current unprofitability, with an expected operating loss between $436 million and $512 million, the company maintains a robust financial position with approximately $1.7 billion in cash and rising free cash flow. Aptiv PLC (APTV) is strategically restructuring, planning a business split by Q1 2026 to separate its slower-growth electrical distribution systems from its higher-margin (18.8% EBITDA) safety and software segment, which generated $12.2 billion in 2024 sales. This move aims to capitalize on faster-growth autonomous functions, with earnings projected to grow significantly to $7.48 per share by 2025 from $2.61 in 2021.

Hesai Group (HSAI), a global leader in lidar solutions, is solidifying its market position through significant design wins, including 20 models from nine leading OEMs through 2026. The company's robotics business also demonstrates strong performance, ranking first in lidar shipments in China for the first half of 2025, with H1 2025 shipments already surpassing full-year 2024 figures. Hesai's technology is critical for the advancement of physical AI and driverless vehicles, positioning it favorably within the evolving autonomous landscape.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Monitor Mobileye's progress in achieving profitability and its ability to convert strategic partnerships into sustained revenue growth, leveraging its strong cash position.
• Evaluate Aptiv's strategic business split in Q1 2026, focusing on the performance and valuation of the higher-margin safety and software segment as a pure-play autonomous technology investment.
• Consider Hesai Group's continued dominance in lidar solutions and its expanding OEM design wins as key indicators for long-term growth in the autonomous vehicle and robotics sectors.