TechCrunch Mobility reports that the autonomous-vehicle sector is experiencing renewed investor interest, with some indicators suggesting the current wave may be larger than the boom seen in 2016 and 2017.

The renewed activity is being driven in part by advances in artificial intelligence.

Trucks VC, an early-stage investment firm focused on the sector, reportedly received pitches from 81 new autonomous-vehicle startups during 2026.

That is around two-thirds more than the firm saw last year and exceeds the number of pitches it received during the previous boom period.

Investors and founders are increasingly exploring how AI can improve the systems that allow vehicles to perceive their surroundings, make decisions and navigate roads.

These advances are helping renew expectations for autonomous transportation.

The growing number of startups and investment pitches does not necessarily mean that commercial deployment will be easy.

Companies still face technical challenges, safety requirements, regulatory scrutiny and the need to demonstrate that their systems can operate reliably outside controlled environments.

TechCrunch’s report suggests the industry may be entering a significant new growth phase.

Whether this momentum becomes a durable market will depend on companies turning technological progress into safe, scalable services and sustainable business models.

Source: TechCrunch