101 Best California Automotive Startups – The Future of Transportation

August 16, 2021

This article showcases our top picks for the best California based Automotive companies. These startups and companies are taking a variety of approaches to innovating the Automotive industry, but are all exceptional companies well worth a follow.

We tried to pick companies across the size spectrum from cutting edge startups to established brands.

We selected these startups and companies for exceptional performance in one of these categories:

  • Innovation
    • Innovative ideas
    • Innovative route to market
    • Innovative product
  • Growth
    • Exceptional growth
    • Exceptional growth strategy
  • Management
  • Societal impact
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Top California Automotive Startups

Data sourced from Crunchbase and SemRush.

Lucid Motors

Lucid Motors

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Lucid Motors is an automotive company that specializes in electric cars.

ChargePoint

ChargePoint

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ChargePoint develops and manufactures technology for their network of electrical vehicle charging stations.

ChargePoint

Aurora

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Aurora is delivering the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.

ChargePoint

Tesla

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Tesla Motors specializes in developing a full range of electric vehicles.

ChargePoint

Pony.ai

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Pony.ai is a startup that builds full-stack autonomous driving solutions.

ChargePoint

Cruise

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Cruise builds self-driving vehicles that safely connect people to places, things, and experiences they care about.

ChargePoint

Faraday Future

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Faraday Future is a design and technology company developing global solutions that re-imagine transportation, content, and ownership.

ChargePoint

Innovusion

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Innovusion is an autonomous vehicle LiDAR technology developer.

ChargePoint

Embark Trucks

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Embark is building self-driving truck technology that specializes in freight and logistic services.

ChargePoint

Proterra

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Proterra develops battery-electric buses that help eliminate fossil fuel dependency and reduce costs.

ChargePoint

Sonatus

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Sonatus builds game-changing vehicle and cloud-based software solutions that create a future-proof foundation for software-defined vehicles.

ChargePoint

Shift

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Shift is an online marketplace for buying and selling used cars.

ChargePoint

Tekion

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Tekion is a cloud-built platform with advanced machine learning and AI capabilities for a personalized and seamless consumer experience.

ChargePoint

Aeva

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Aeva develops a sensing and perception paradigm for autonomous machines.

ChargePoint

Cepton Technologies

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Leading provider of state-of-the-art, intelligent, lidar-based solutions for automotive and smart infrastructure applications.

ChargePoint

LISNR

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LISNR enables secure and seamless data transmission using the most advanced ultrasonic data technology

ChargePoint

Ridecell

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Ridecell provides car-sharing, ride-sharing, short-term leases, and autonomous vehicle fleet services for car rental companies.

ChargePoint

Ghost

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Ghost is developing the revolutionary technology that finally makes self-driving safe.

ChargePoint

Nauto

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Nauto is an AI-technology company on a mission to make driving safer and smarter

ChargePoint

comma.ai

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comma is solving self driving cars while delivering shippable intermediaries: openpilot and the comma two.

ChargePoint

TrueCar

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TrueCar is an information and technology platform that enables its users to communicate with TrueCar certified dealers.

ChargePoint

Just Auto Insurance

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Just Auto Insurance is an insurance and technology start-up company that provides data driven, pre-paid, and pay-per-mile car insurance.

ChargePoint

Phantom Auto

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Phantom Auto is a software company that offers a long-range teleoperation platform for any vehicle.

ChargePoint

Car IQ

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The better way for fleets to pay

ChargePoint

Canoo

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Canoo has designed a modular electric platform purpose-built to deliver maximum vehicle interior space and adaptable to support.

ChargePoint

YourMechanic

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YourMechanic is an online marketplace enabling consumers and fleets to get over 500 auto services directly at their homes, offices and lots.

ChargePoint

Aperia Technologies

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Aperia Technologies provides automatic tire inflation devices that help improve the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles.

ChargePoint

Zendrive

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Zendrive leverages mobile sensor data to provide actionable insights that improve safety for passengers and drivers worldwide.

ChargePoint

Sight Machine

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Sight Machine provides analytics platform that helps address critical challenges in quality and productivity throughout the enterprise.

ChargePoint

Tempo Automation

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Tempo Automation is the world’s first AI-driven Smart Factory designed for low volume, high complexity PBCA production.

ChargePoint

AutoFi

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AutoFi is a commerce platform delivering point of sale solution for financing a vehicle online.

ChargePoint

Voyage

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Voyage has built the technology to bring autonomous transportation to those who need it most, beginning in retirement communities.

ChargePoint

Kyte

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Kyte is a technology platform connecting professional fleet owners with rental customers.

ChargePoint

HyreCar

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HyreCar is a peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace that allows anyone to rent their idle cars to Uber and Lyft drivers safely and reliably.

ChargePoint

Gatik

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Autonomous Delivery Network for the Middle Mile

ChargePoint

HONK

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HONK is an innovative roadside assistance platform that uses both technology and a unique business model.

ChargePoint

indie Semiconductor

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indie is empowering the Autotech revolution with next generation automotive semiconductors and software platforms.

ChargePoint

Edmunds

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Edmunds is an online consumer review website that offers its users with research, shopping, and buying tools for new and used cars.

ChargePoint

EV Connect

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EV Connect provides enterprise-class, electric vehicle charging software and solutions.

ChargePoint

ARRIS

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ARRIS is a technology company enabling the design and manufacture of the highest-performance products at scale.

ChargePoint

Ample

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Ample utilizes autonomous robotics and smart-battery technology to solve the energy delivery challenge for electric transportation.

ChargePoint

Black Sesame Technologies

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Black Sesame Technologies is an AI digital imaging technology firm that creates solutions for real-world AI challenges.

ChargePoint

Modal

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Modal provides digital commerce for auto dealers and brands.

ChargePoint

Driveway

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Driveway is a cloud-based technology that helps ordinary drivers become safe drivers and helps insurers find and reward them.

ChargePoint

Zero Motorcycles

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Zero Motorcycles specializes in producing lightweight electric motorcycles.

ChargePoint

Prodigy

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Prodigy digitizes the process to save customers’ time while improving trust and satisfaction.

ChargePoint

AutoWeb

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AutoWeb is a digital marketing company for the automotive industry.

ChargePoint

Divergent 3D

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Divergent 3D aims to revolutionize the auto industry through 3D printing.

ChargePoint

SmartThings

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SmartThings, a smartphone app, allows its users to monitor and control their domestic affairs even when they are out of their home.

ChargePoint

NXCR

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NXCR is a vehicle subscription startup that makes mobility flexible, affordable, and fully digital.

ChargePoint

Roadster

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Roadster provides consumer-driven commerce solutions for today’s modern dealership.

ChargePoint

CoverHound

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CoverHound is a technology company offering a platform for consumers to shop for car insurance.

ChargePoint

Fisker

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Fisker is a designer and manufacturer of emotion-stirring, eco-friendly electric vehicles.

ChargePoint

Recargo

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Recargo is a e-mobility software company and one of the industry’s most utilized sources of driver-contributed EV industry data.

ChargePoint

Yoshi

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Yoshi fills a vehicle’s tank wherever a driver wanted instead of the owner having to stop at a gas station.

ChargePoint

WeaveGrid

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WeaveGrid develops electrification software for the scalable deployment of electric vehicles on the electric grid.

ChargePoint

Helm.ai

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Helm.ai is a scalable artificial intelligence for autonomous vehicle.

ChargePoint

Bestmile

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Bestmile is a fleet orchestration platform for mobility providers to deploy, manage and optimize AV and human-driven vehicle fleets.

ChargePoint

Fyusion

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Fyusion develops products powered by 3D computer vision and machine learning.

ChargePoint

Sibros

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Sibros offers automotive cloud solutions including OTA software updates, data logging, fleet management, and vehicle analytics.

ChargePoint

Automile

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Automile offers frictionless tracking and management of fleets and assets.

ChargePoint

Metawave

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Metawave is a wireless technology company that builds intelligent and high-performance automotive radars by leveraging metamaterials and AI.

ChargePoint

Shopmonkey

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Shopmonkey provides a process management software designed for auto repair shops.

ChargePoint

Transphorm

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Transphorm is a producer of gallium nitride-based solutions for high-voltage power conversion applications.

ChargePoint

Kitty Hawk

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Kitty Hawk is a startup taking aim at creating real, usable flying cars.

ChargePoint

Smartcar

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Smartcar is the car API for developers. Our platform allows web and mobile apps to locate and unlock cars using simple HTTP requests.

ChargePoint

Peloton Technology

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Peloton is a connected and automated vehicle technology company improving safety and efficiency in the trucking industry.

ChargePoint

WHILL

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WHILL designs and creates personal mobility products for indoor and outdoor applications.

ChargePoint

Waymo

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Waymo improves transportation by developing self-driving technology developed in Google’s labs.

ChargePoint

AutoGravity

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AutoGravity is revolutionizing the digital car-buying experience!

ChargePoint

Zendar

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Zendar develops high-definition radar for autonomous vehicles.

ChargePoint

Astera Labs

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Astera Labs is a semiconductor company that provides connectivity solutions for intelligent systems.

ChargePoint

Scoot

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Scoot Networks is an electric moped company that offers electric mobility-as-a-service vehicles.

ChargePoint

myKaarma

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myKaarma is a cloud based automotive customer interaction management company.

ChargePoint

Phantom AI

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Phantom AI is a software-based vehicle stack that allows Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs to customize and configure for unparalleled flexibility.

ChargePoint

EVgo

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EVgo provides fast charging networks for private and public electric vehicles.

ChargePoint

Greenlots

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Greenlots delivers innovative software, services, and expertise that empowers utilities, cities, communities, and automakers.

ChargePoint

Motorq

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Motorq is a connected-car data ecosystem that enables enterprise users to collaborate with OEMs and device makers.

ChargePoint

Automatic

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Automatic is a Smart Driving Assistant that can save you money on gas, remember where you parked, and even call for help in a crash.

ChargePoint

RepairPal

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RepairPal helps car owners find peace-of-mind with free, custom repair estimates, cars overviews, and recommendations to local, fair shops.

ChargePoint

Fair

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Fair is a car leasing company that is revolutionizing the car-as-a-service concept.

ChargePoint

RoboTire

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RoboTire automates vehicle maintenance by combining robots and computer vision.

ChargePoint

Savari

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Savari builds advanced wireless sensor hardware and software technologies for automotive manufacturers, the aftermarket and smart cities.

ChargePoint

Joyent

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Joyent is a cloud infrastructure service provider that enables its customers to operate modern cloud native applications.

ChargePoint

Shop-Ware

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Shop-Ware offers an enterprise-grade SaaS platform to help the automotive aftermarket thrive and grow.

ChargePoint

Populus

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Populus is a technology startup that entails micromobility services and ride hailing for cities to manage the future of mobility.

ChargePoint

Drivemode

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Drivemode enables smarter, safer, connected driving in any vehicle.

ChargePoint

StradVision

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StradVision is an innovator in vision processing technology for Autonomous Vehicles and advanced driver assistance.

ChargePoint

Volta Charging

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Volta Charging designs, installs, and maintains a network of electric vehicle charging stations.

ChargePoint

Flywheel

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Flywheel is a mobile app that allows users to hail a cab, track a ride, and make payments.

ChargePoint

SF Motors

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SF Motors develops autonomous electric vehicle technologies.

ChargePoint

Light

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Light enables machines to see like humans using a camera-based perception platform that revolutionizes perception for ADAS/AV.

ChargePoint

Vast

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Vast offers decision-making tools that help and support customers in purchasing homes, cars, and vacations.

ChargePoint

ACTON

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ACTON creates micro mobility package that amplify the power of the human body, reduce traffic, and manages urban fleets efficiently.

ChargePoint

Mesmer

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Mesmer is a Robotics Process Automation for Software Development (RPAD) company.

ChargePoint

DeepScale

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DeepScale is a technology company that develops perceptual systems for semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles

ChargePoint

Relimetrics

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Relimetrics develops full stack computer vision and machine learning software for QA and process control in Industry 4.0 applications.

ChargePoint

Phiar Technologies

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Phiar’s Ultra-lightweight Spatial AI Engine enables vehicles to perceive its surroundings, and powers our first use case in AR Navigation.

ChargePoint

Skytran

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Skytran develops passive magnetic levitation and propulsion technology for implementing personal transportation systems.

ChargePoint

Maxwell Technologies

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Maxwell Technologies manufacturing and marketing energy storage and power delivery solutions for automotive.

ChargePoint

GuRu

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Enables safe, effective and customizable transmission of power over-the-air using proprietary mmWave and Smart RF Lensing technology

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