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2026 outlook

Autonomous electric vehicles: four things to look for in 2026

Innovative technologies underpin an accelerated market expansion

In the full report:  

  • Why 2026 marks a turning point for AEVs - from pilot projects to commercial-scale deployment

  • How AI innovation, particularly new VLA models, is transforming the cost, speed and economics of autonomy

  • Which regions and players are best positioned to shape the next phase of global AEV growth

  • And more 

Download the complimentary report

Download the complimentary report

In 2026, the Transport-as-a-Service (TaaS) sector is set to move decisively beyond pilot programmes, with AEVs expected to be operational or testing in 39 markets worldwide by year-end. After years of experimentation, the sector is entering a capital-intensive scaling phase - underpinned by rapid technology maturation and a surge in investment that reached US$18 billion in 2025. 

This shift marks a clear inflection point. New AI architectures are compressing launch timelines, lowering costs, and fundamentally reshaping the economics of autonomous deployment. As a result, AEVs are beginning to transition from isolated trials to commercial-scale operations across multiple regions simultaneously. 

In our recent report, Autonomous electric vehicles: four things to look for in 2026, our experts drew on analysis from Wood Mackenzie’s Lens Power & Renewables, Electric Vehicle and Battery Supply Chain Service and Lens Energy Transition Scenarios solutions to examine how this next phase of growth will unfold - and who stands to shape it. 

The report explores and answers critical questions including: 

  • Are autonomous electric vehicles finally moving from pilots to mainstream deployment? 
  • Who will define the global AEV market - platform leaders or supply-chain powerhouses? 
  • Where are AEV pilots translating into real commercial momentum beyond the US and China? 
  • Are new AI models the key to scalable, commercially viable autonomy? 

Fill in the form at the top of the page to access your complimentary copy of the report.