TLDR
- NVIDIA (NVDA) is ranked the top self-driving car stock by analysts.
- The company has a 63.26% upside potential as of April 22, 2025.
- Its DRIVE platform powers a wide range of autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies.
- Despite export restrictions, NVIDIA is backed by strong AI and AV growth prospects.
- Long-term investors are bullish due to exposure to $50T+ AI and robotics markets.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) plays a foundational role in the self-driving ecosystem by developing graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI chips. Through its NVIDIA DRIVE platform, the company provides comprehensive solutions for autonomous vehicles, covering everything from in-car hardware and software to AI infrastructure.
Historically, NVIDIA was a core partner to Tesla before the EV giant moved chip design in-house. Today, the company remains a key player in AV technology, offering scalable, high-performance systems for automakers, robotaxi fleets, and sensor developers.
Analysts Are Bullish Despite Trade Headwinds
Mizuho Securities recently reaffirmed an “Outperform” rating on NVDA with a $168 price target, implying a 63% upside from its current price of $108.55 (as of April 29, 2025).
This comes despite new U.S. export restrictions on NVIDIA’s H20 AI chips, which could impact around $5.5 billion of its expected $16 billion in 2025 orders.
However, analysts remain confident due to the ramp-up of the GB200 series and NVIDIA’s expanded GPU rack testing capacity, which they view as critical near-term growth drivers. Mizuho also highlighted NVIDIA’s long-term investment in AI infrastructure for 2026 and beyond.
Strong Historical Returns Boost Confidence
Despite NVDA’s -19.15% YTD return in 2025, the stock’s long-term performance remains stellar:
- 1-Year Return: +23.76%
- 3-Year Return: +486.31%
- 5-Year Return: +1,360.43%
These figures significantly outpace the S&P 500, indicating strong investor confidence in NVIDIA’s growth trajectory, especially in AI and self-driving tech.
Strategic Position in a Growing Industry
The global autonomous vehicle market, worth $68.09 billion in 2024, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.9% through 2030. NVIDIA’s DRIVE platform places it at the center of this transformation. Its products power not just individual AV functions but entire end-to-end vehicle systems, making it indispensable to the ecosystem.
Goldman Sachs and S&P Global both emphasize the shift from full autonomy toward more practical, geo-fenced Level 4 applications — an area where NVIDIA’s partnerships and platforms are well-positioned to thrive.
Conclusion
Yes, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is not only among the best self-driving car stocks to buy, but it also ranks #1 according to analysts, offering significant upside potential and a strong technology moat. While near-term volatility due to geopolitical risks exists, NVIDIA’s dominance in AV, AI, and robotics makes it a compelling long-term investment.
