Radar · Auto in California
Best Auto Companies in California, United States
The 877 best Auto companies in California, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: QuantumScape.
By Riya SenguptaFinancials
877companies tracked
$5.4Bdisclosed funding
2unicorns
110have raised
FLIAR INTELLIGENCE · AUTO × CALIFORNIA
Our analysis of 50 Auto companies
$9.4b in tracked funding; 94% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
50companies analysed
94%cloud-native stacks
2025funding peak (by rounds)
4unicorns
2015median founding year
402kcombined LinkedIn audience
50%of audience held by top 3
4companies hiring publicly (12 mo)
Ranked: Best Auto companies in California
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founded | Founder | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | QuantumScape Developer of solid-state lithium-metal battery technology for electric vehicle applications | $1.0B | 69 mo ago | 850 850 → 672 (-21%) | 2010 | Timothy Holme Co-Founder & CTO | DrupalApple iCloud MailPHP+28 | 285 patents Patents concentrated in electrical & electronics | 1 partnership |
| 2 | Divergent 🦄 Developer of adaptive production system for complex structures manufacturing 67Funding top 14%Moat top 25%Growth top 26%Talent top 38% All 10 signals ▾Fundingtop 14% Moattop 25% Growthtop 26% Talenttop 38% Patentstop 47% Markettop 48% Innovationtop 49% Techtop 49% Newstop 49% Globalbottom 42% Funding: Raised $578M across 10 rounds · 10 rounds over 10 yrs (1.0/yr) Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 9/10 · IP moat: 24 patents rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 67/100 | $578M | 9 mo ago | 136 | 2014 | Karolina Visser Co-Founder / COO | Node.jsReactNext.js+6 | 24 patents Advanced additive manufacturing of lightweight transport structures and multi-material components | 2 expansions · 1 award |
| 3 | Fair 🦄 App-based platform to lease cars | $566M | 51 mo ago | 152 | 2016 | Scott Painter Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+8 | 33 patents AI-powered transaction processing, pricing optimization, and vehicle search/valuation platforms | — |
| 4 | CarsDirect Online dealer of used & new cars | $310M | 319 mo ago | 3,469 | 1998 | — | Node.jsJavaSalesforce+32 | — | — |
| 5 | Motorcar Parts Global leader in remanufactured auto parts, promoting sustainability and quality | $284M | 84 mo ago | 5,600 | 2000 | — | Master SliderWordPressMySQL+21 | 8 patents Advanced alternator decoupling pulleys with torsional damping and illumination for vehicles | 2 awards |
| 6 | CarWoo Limited information available | $270M | 174 mo ago | 441 | 2008 | Michael Young Founder | Apple iCloud MailNode.jsTypeScript+33 | — | — |
| 7 | shift SHIFT is a leading cross-network social advertising platform for brands and agencies. | $243M | 86 mo ago | 535 | 2013 | — | SanityNode.jsRadix UI+25 | 28 patents Medical fluid infusion monitoring and flow measurement systems | — |
| 8 | Bell Helmets Manufacturer of motorcycle and bicycle helmets and related apparel | $215M | 336 mo ago | 1,001 | 1954 | Roy Richter Founder | Salesforce Commerce CloudApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+26 | — | — |
| 9 | Jerry AI-powered car insurance comparison platform 72Moat top 26%Funding top 27%Talent top 28%Product top 32% All 13 signals ▾Moattop 26% Fundingtop 27% Talenttop 28% Producttop 32% Customerstop 32% Patentstop 35% Innovationtop 37% Markettop 43% Growthtop 45% AItop 45% Techbottom 45% Globalbottom 44% Newsbottom 22% Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 · IP moat: 197 patents Funding: Raised $213M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 8 yrs (0.4/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 72/100 | $213M | 34 mo ago | 194 | 2017 | Lina Zhang Co-Founder | — | 197 patents Implantable biomedical electronics—hermetic feedthroughs, stable electrodes, biocompatible packaging, visual prostheses | — |
| 10 | Enevate Developer of lithium-ion batteries | $191M | 64 mo ago | 72 72 → 44 (-39%) | 2006 | — | WordPress Block EditorWordPressApple iCloud Mail+13 | 766 patents Silicon-dominant anode materials, binders, and electrolytes for high‑energy fast‑charge batteries | — |
| 11 | Beepi P2P car selling marketplace with consignment services | $149M | 130 mo ago | 270 | 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | Booster Provider of energy intelligence and mobile fuel delivery services | $125M | 48 mo ago | 247 247 → 287 (+16%) | 2014 | Diego Netto Co-Founder and Technologist in Residence | WordPressMySQLPHP+28 | — | 1 expansion |
| 13 | Achates Power Manufacturer of engine for vehicles | $108M | 87 mo ago | 41 | 2004 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+26 | 542 patents Opposed‑piston engine design and hydrogen combustion systems for efficient power generation | — |
| 14 | AutoGravity P2P platform for car loans | $80M | 107 mo ago | 4 | 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Openlane Online used cars auction platform | $75M | 72 mo ago | 20 | 1999 | Peter Kelly Chief Executive Officer | WordPress Block EditorWordPressApple iCloud Mail+39 | 34 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | 1 job opening · 1 award |
| 16 | WithClutch Online lending marketplace for refinancing car loans 53Funding top 30%Growth top 35%Tech top 35%Moat top 42% All 7 signals ▾Fundingtop 30% Growthtop 35% Techtop 35% Moattop 42% Talentbottom 49% Marketbottom 39% Globalbottom 36% Funding: Raised $65.0M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 4 yrs (0.2/yr) Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 53/100 | $65M | 16 mo ago | 81 | 2014 | Nicholas Hinrichsen CEO / Co-Founder | WordPressApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+27 | — | — |
| 17 | Ionblox Developer of lithium-ion battery technology for automotive and aviation applications | $56M | 40 mo ago | 22 | 2017 | Michael Sinkula Co-Founder | Squarespace CommerceSquarespaceYUI+8 | 22 patents Advanced silicon‑oxide anodes and prelithiation processes for high‑energy lithium‑ion batteries | — |
| 18 | YourMechanic Mobile car repair platform that provides on-demand vehicle maintenance and repair services | $51M | 88 mo ago | 33 | 2011 | — | Node.jsRubyFirebase+27 | — | — |
| 19 | Edmunds.com Online listing platform for multi-category used vehicles & price comparison | $50M | 76 mo ago | 439 439 → 604 (+38%) | 1966 | Ludwig Arons Founder | Apple iCloud MailGoogle WorkspaceSalesforce+26 | — | 2 awards |
| 20 | RepairSmith Online platform offering on-demand car repair & maintenance services | $42M | 57 mo ago | 135 | 2018 | — | Apple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365TypeScript+20 | — | — |
| 21 | Spring Free EV Provider of online electric vehicles leasing services 29Funding top 26%Tech top 46%Talent bottom 49%Moat bottom 38% All 6 signals ▾Fundingtop 26% Techtop 46% Talentbottom 49% Moatbottom 38% Globalbottom 37% Marketbottom 27% Funding: Raised $35.6M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 3 yrs (1.0/yr) Tech: 39 technologies across 3/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 29/100 | $36M | 8 mo ago | 20 | 2021 | Andrew Deitz Co-Founder & Head of Business Development | WordPressMySQLPHP+36 | — | — |
| 22 | Noblr Usage-based car insurance platform for individuals | $35M | 66 mo ago | 46 | 2016 | — | SentrySalesforceSalesforce Service Cloud+22 | — | — |
| 23 | IBC Platform offering prismatic lithium-ion cells for mobility and energy storage 35Growth top 31%Funding top 32%Tech top 44%Talent top 46% All 11 signals ▾Growthtop 31% Fundingtop 32% Techtop 44% Talenttop 46% Newsbottom 45% Globalbottom 45% Fin. healthbottom 44% Moatbottom 38% Innovationbottom 36% Patentsbottom 32% Marketbottom 14% Growth: Revenue +1937% YoY · Fresh capital in last 24 mo Funding: Raised $35.0M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 2 yrs (1.5/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 35/100 | $35M | 12 mo ago | 6 | 2022 | Priyadarshi Panda Co-Founder & CEO | GoDaddy Website BuilderGoogle MapsVimeo+13 | 3 patents Electrical conduit connectors and metal strip casting equipment manufacturing | 1 job opening · 1 launch |
| 24 | Caramel Platform facilitating private used car sales with secure transaction management 42Talent top 28%Funding top 31%Growth top 35%Moat top 39% All 9 signals ▾Talenttop 28% Fundingtop 31% Growthtop 35% Moattop 39% Producttop 42% Customersbottom 44% Globalbottom 32% Marketbottom 25% Newsbottom 18% Talent: 3 named leaders on record · 3 C-suite/founder profiles curated Funding: Raised $33.4M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 3 yrs (0.7/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 42/100 | $33M | 23 mo ago | 18 | 2021 | Edward Brojerdi Co-Founder & Co-CEO | — | — | — |
| 25 | HONK Technologies AI-powered roadside assistance platform redefining vehicle assistance and logistics | $33M | 95 mo ago | 121 121 → 136 (+12%) | 2014 | — | WebflowGSAPTypekit+22 | — | 1 award |
| 26 | Kinetic Manufacturer of vehicle maintenance | $31M | 25 mo ago | 10 | 2021 | Nikhil Naikal Co-Founder & CEO | Craft CMSPHPYii+16 | 20 patents Advanced pressurized-resin and tankless additive manufacturing for high‑precision 3D printing | — |
| 27 | FinditParts Online marketplace for truck parts | $30M | 50 mo ago | 120 | 2010 | David Seewack Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalityRubyErlang+29 | — | 2 job openings |
| 28 | Filld On demand fuel ordering platform | $29M | 91 mo ago | 15 | 2015 | Christopher Aubuchon Co-Founder & CEO | — | 5 patents On-demand mobile fuel dispensing and delivery system technologies | — |
| 29 | Owl Cameras Provider of vehicle dashcam hardware and related support services | $29M | 94 mo ago | 35 | 2016 | Andrew Hodge Co-Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalityShopifyYouTube+22 | 30 patents Vehicle-mounted camera systems with video analytics and networked surveillance for automotive safety | — |
| 30 | Happier Camper Innovative fiberglass travel trailers with adaptable interiors for versatile adventures 29Growth top 35%Funding top 41%Tech top 48%Patents bottom 45% All 7 signals ▾Growthtop 35% Fundingtop 41% Techtop 48% Patentsbottom 45% Globalbottom 37% Innovationbottom 33% Marketbottom 25% Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo Funding: Raised $25.4M across 7 rounds · 7 rounds over 10 yrs (0.7/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 29/100 | $25M | 13 mo ago | 22 | 2012 | — | Cart FunctionalityShopifyGSAP+28 | 10 patents Modular interior conversion system for recreational vehicles and camper living spaces | — |
| 31 | VOOM Online usage-based motorcycle insurance platform for individuals | $22M | 56 mo ago | 39 | 2016 | — | WebflowApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+24 | 41 patents Patents concentrated in health & consumer products | — |
| 32 | Conifer Provider of electric conversion kits for multiple categories of vehicles 24Funding top 33%Growth top 35%Talent top 38%Tech bottom 49% All 8 signals ▾Fundingtop 33% Growthtop 35% Talenttop 38% Techbottom 49% Globalbottom 35% Marketbottom 31% Patentsbottom 29% Innovationbottom 2% Funding: Raised $20.0M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 1 yrs (1.0/yr) Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 24/100 | $20M | 14 mo ago | — | 2022 | Ankit Somani Co-Founder | WebflowGSAPUmami+17 | 2 patents Decorative furniture components, specifically tree‑shaped sashes for interior furnishings | 1 launch |
| 33 | Pro Shop Holdings Provider of car repair services | $20M | 27 mo ago | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Signal Automotive Dealer of cars | $20M | 67 mo ago | — | 2019 | Steve Jillings CEO | Webflow EcommerceWebflowcore-js+14 | — | — |
| 35 | CDTi Catalyst technology company enabling clean energy transition and emissions reduction | $19M | 115 mo ago | 15 | 1995 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+25 | 55 patents Zero‑PGM emission catalysts: formulation, corrosion control, and oxygen storage for diesel/TWC systems | — |
| 36 | Just Usage-based auto insurance platform for individuals | $15M | 32 mo ago | 48 | 2014 | Robert Smithson Founder and CEO | SentryNode.jsRadix UI+25 | 39 patents Patents concentrated in health & consumer products | — |
| 37 | ServiceUp Provider of car engine repairing and maintenance and replacement services 53Tech top 20%Funding top 30%Growth top 35%Product top 40% All 9 signals ▾Techtop 20% Fundingtop 30% Growthtop 35% Producttop 40% Moattop 42% Newstop 49% Talentbottom 47% Marketbottom 33% Globalbottom 32% Tech: 43 technologies across 5/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon S3, Amazon Web Services Funding: Raised $14.5M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 4 yrs (0.5/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 53/100 | $14M | 11 mo ago | 39 39 → 85 (+118%) | 2020 | Brett Dashe Head Of Revenue & Co-founder | WebflowApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+23 | — | 1 award |
| 38 | Hyperion Developer of advanced technology solutions for various industrial applications | $14M | 24 mo ago | 20 | 2011 | — | Webflowcore-jsjQuery+16 | 20 patents Multidimensional database analytics, OLAP query optimization, and high‑dimensional data visualization | — |
| 39 | Pebble Manufacturer of motor vehicles | $14M | 36 mo ago | 16 | 2015 | Ivan Wang Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalityNode.jsFirebase+27 | 67 patents Patents concentrated in chemistry & materials | 2 launchs |
| 40 | Stress-Free Provider of stress-free automotive service experience with a friendly team and modernized auto repair industry | $11M | 26 mo ago | 50 | 2019 | — | Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespace+37 | — | — |
| 41 | EV Life Provider of electric vehicle financing, incentives, and home charger bundling | $9M | 32 mo ago | 7 | 2019 | Kevin Favro Co-Founder & Co-CEO | Node.jsHeadless UITailwind CSS+21 | 8,382 patents Molecular diagnostics and bioassay technologies for fluorescence labeling, PCR optimization, and cell analysis | — |
| 42 | HummingbirdEV Developer of powertrain system for commercial vehicles | $6M | 36 mo ago | — | 2015 | Vinay Jayachand Co-Founder | — | 3 patents Grid‑aware adaptive charging systems for electric vehicles optimizing load and battery health | — |
| 43 | Zevvy Online platform offering electric car leasing services | $5M | 43 mo ago | 6 | 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 44 | SimpleCar Provider of car maintenance services | $4M | 32 mo ago | 6 | 2021 | Clyde Rankin Founder | Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespace+18 | — | — |
| 45 | TeraSpatial Home | $4M | 25 mo ago | — | 2022 | Cormac Conroy Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | — |
| 46 | Bidbus Online used car marketplace 69Tech top 34%Growth top 35%Funding top 41%Talent bottom 49% All 5 signals ▾Techtop 34% Growthtop 35% Fundingtop 41% Talentbottom 49% Globalbottom 33% Tech: 32 technologies across 5/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 69/100 | $3M | 11 mo ago | — | 2011 | Cory Kuang Co-Founder/CTO | Radix UITailwind CSSshadcn/ui+17 | — | — |
| 47 | CarlStreet Online marketplace portal for pre-owned cars | $3M | 40 mo ago | 7 | 2018 | Lyle Dizon Co-Founder & COO | — | — | — |
| 48 | ADASTEC Manufacturer of buses 50Growth top 35%Talent top 38%Funding top 45%Tech bottom 42% All 7 signals ▾Growthtop 35% Talenttop 38% Fundingtop 45% Techbottom 42% Globalbottom 39% Moatbottom 38% Marketbottom 37% Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 50/100 | $1M | 11 mo ago | 80 | 2017 | Kerem Par Co-Founder | Webflowcore-jsjQuery+11 | — | — |
| 49 | Steinmetz Manufacturer of high-efficiency electric vehicle motor controllers | $500K | 12 mo ago | — | 2024 | Owen Brake CEO | — | 2 patents Vehicle interior cargo floor design and occupant protection systems | — |
| 50 | Carparts.com Online retailer of auto parts & accessories | $300K | 9 mo ago | 893 | 1995 | David McCann Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalityApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+37 | — | — |
Top 12 Auto companies in California
#1
Series E · Torrance, California · founded 2014 · 136 employees$578Mraised▾
Series E · Torrance, California · founded 2014 · 136 employees
Developer of adaptive production system for complex structures manufacturing. The system uses AI-enabled engineering software to optimize structure design based on performance and manufacturing constraints. Manufacturing instructions are sent to 3D printers to materialize individual printed nodes with application-specific alloys. A universal robotic assembly process assembles the printed nodes.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 67how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 14%Moat
top 25%Growth
top 26%Talent
top 38%Patents
top 47%Market
top 48%Funding: Raised $578M across 10 rounds · 10 rounds over 10 yrs (1.0/yr) · Last round Venture Debt (Sep 2025)
Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 9/10 · IP moat: 24 patents · Unicorn
Growth: Headcount 88 → 136 (+55%) across vintages · Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Audience (LinkedIn): 44k LinkedIn followers — 11.0% of this cohort's audience
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 awards · 2 expansions announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Sep 2025Venture Debt$40M
- Sep 2025Series E$250M
- Jun 2024Conventional Debt$47M
- Nov 2023Series D$230M
Founders & team
Investors
Horizon, Western Alliance Bank, O Luxe Holdings, Horizons Ventures, Altran, Hexagon
Tech stack
DocusignHstsHttp/3LodashMicrosoft 365Module Federation
#2
Series A · San Francisco, California · founded 2021 · 20 employees$35.6Mraised▾
Series A · San Francisco, California · founded 2021 · 20 employees
Provider of online electric vehicles leasing services
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 29how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 26%Tech
top 46%Talent
bottom 49%Moat
bottom 38%Global
bottom 37%Market
bottom 27%Funding: Raised $35.6M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 3 yrs (1.0/yr) · Last round Series A (Sep 2025)
Tech: 39 technologies across 3/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare · Security: Cloudflare Bot Management, Http/3
Talent: 1 named leader on record · 1 C-suite/founder profile curated
Audience (LinkedIn): 5k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
- Sep 2025Series A$7.2M
- Dec 2023Series A$4.6M
- Apr 2023Conventional Debt—
- Mar 2023Series A$31M
Founders & team
Investors
Climate Capital, Spring Lane Capital, Bronze Venture Fund, Brainstorm Ventures, Pitbull Ventures, Gaingels
#3
Series A · Milpitas, California · founded 2022 · 6 employees$35Mraised▾
Series A · Milpitas, California · founded 2022 · 6 employees
Platform offering prismatic lithium-ion cells for mobility and energy storage. It focuses on cell design and manufacturing for various applications. It provides cells and tailored products to meet specific customer needs. The company offers end-to-end solutions for original equipment manufacturers and materials providers. It operates a pilot facility to test and validate manufacturing scalability.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 35how this company ranks against its industry peers
Growth
top 31%Funding
top 32%Tech
top 44%Talent
top 46%News
bottom 45%Global
bottom 45%Growth: Revenue +1937% YoY · Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Funding: Raised $35.0M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 2 yrs (1.5/yr) · Last round Series A (Jun 2025)
Tech: 22 technologies across 3/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon Cloudfront, Amazon S3 · Security: Cloudflare Bot Management, Hsts
Audience (LinkedIn): 4k LinkedIn followers
Hiring (LinkedIn): 1 hiring post in 12 mo (public) · hiring: Senior Formation Manufacturing Engineer, Senior Electrode Manufacturing Engineer
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Jun 2025Series A$24.6M
- May 2025Seed$4.4M
- Jan 2024Seed$35M
Founders & team
Investors
RTP Global, Beenext, Shastra, Himadri Chemicals and Industries, FalconX
Tech stack
Amazon CloudfrontAmazon S3Amazon Web ServicesAstroGoogle MapsGoogle Workspace
#4
Series B · Los Angeles, California · founded 2012 · 22 employees$25.4Mraised▾
Series B · Los Angeles, California · founded 2012 · 22 employees
Innovative fiberglass travel trailers with adaptable interiors for versatile adventures. They design and manufacture lightweight, durable travel trailers featuring a modular interior system. Their products offer endless possibilities, from camping and business use to extra living space. They focus on creating a community around their brand, encouraging customers to share their experiences and connect with each other. They offer a range of models and accessories, providing options for customization and personalization. Customers can explore models, book appointments, and find resources on their website. They also provide financing options and a catalog for a deeper dive into their product suite. They aim to provide excellent customer service and support throughout the buying process and beyond. Their trailers are designed to be easy to tow and set up, making them ideal for both experienced and first-time campers. They offer virtual tours and showroom visits to help customers find the perfect camper.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 29how this company ranks against its industry peers
Growth
top 35%Funding
top 41%Tech
top 48%Patents
bottom 45%Global
bottom 37%Innovation
bottom 33%Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Funding: Raised $25.4M across 7 rounds · 7 rounds over 10 yrs (0.7/yr) · Last round Series B (May 2025)
Tech: 32 technologies across 3/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare · Security: Cloudflare Bot Management, Hsts
Audience (LinkedIn): 1k LinkedIn followers
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- May 2025Series B$4.9M
- Apr 2023Series B$6.6M
- Jul 2021Series B$7.6M
- Nov 2020Series A$3.7M
Investors
Camping World, Sortis, NewBound Ventures
Tech stack
Cart FunctionalityCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCore-JsFancyboxFlickity
#5
Series B · Los Gatos, California · founded 2020 · 39 employees$14.5Mraised▾
Series B · Los Gatos, California · founded 2020 · 39 employees
Provider of car engine repairing and maintenance and replacement services. Users can book services by providing location, user details, vehicle details, and more.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 53how this company ranks against its industry peers
Tech
top 20%Funding
top 30%Growth
top 35%Product
top 40%Moat
top 42%News
top 49%Tech: 43 technologies across 5/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon S3, Amazon Web Services · Security: Cloudflare Bot Management, Hsts
Funding: Raised $14.5M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 4 yrs (0.5/yr) · Last round Series B (Jul 2025)
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Audience (LinkedIn): 7k LinkedIn followers
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 awards announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Jul 2025Series B$55M
- Sep 2022Series A$14.5M
Founders & team
Investors
Tiger Global Management, Hearst, Chaos Ventures, PeakSpan Capital, Trestle Partner, Capital Midwest Fund
Tech stack
ApolloApple Icloud MailCdnjsCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCookieyes
#6
Series B · Half Moon Bay, California · founded 2014 · 81 employees$65Mraised▾
Series B · Half Moon Bay, California · founded 2014 · 81 employees
Online lending marketplace for refinancing car loans. It has partnered with multiple automobile brands that enable borrowers to lower payments or get credited to cover car loans. It also features an auto loan refinance calculator in order to estimate payments by providing credit scores and loan balances.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 53how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 30%Growth
top 35%Tech
top 35%Moat
top 42%Talent
bottom 49%Market
bottom 39%Funding: Raised $65.0M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 4 yrs (0.2/yr) · Last round Series B (Jan 2025)
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Tech: 36 technologies across 5/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare · Devops: Nginx
Audience (LinkedIn): 18k LinkedIn followers — 4.5% of this cohort's audience
Funding rounds
- Jan 2025Series B$65M
- Apr 2022Seed—
Founders & team
Investors
CUNA Mutual Group, Alkeon Capital Management, Andreessen Horowitz, TruStage, Peterson Partners, Iterative
Tech stack
All In One SeoApple Icloud MailCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCookiebotCore-Js
#7
Seed · Sunnyvale, California · founded 2022$20Mraised▾
Seed · Sunnyvale, California · founded 2022
Provider of electric conversion kits for multiple categories of vehicles. Its conversion kit includes motors, controllers, batteries, and more. It also developed a patented axial flux motor technology with proprietary stator design, enabling high efficiency and power density using widely available ferrite magnets.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 24how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 33%Growth
top 35%Talent
top 38%Tech
bottom 49%Global
bottom 35%Market
bottom 31%Funding: Raised $20.0M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 1 yrs (1.0/yr) · Last round Seed (Apr 2025)
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Audience (LinkedIn): 8k LinkedIn followers — 2.0% of this cohort's audience
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
- Apr 2025Seed$20M
Founders & team
Investors
True Ventures, MFV Partners, MaC Venture Capital, Voyager, Z21 Ventures, SVB
Tech stack
CdnjsCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementGoogle AnalyticsGoogle WorkspaceGsap
#8
Seed · Irvine, California · founded 2011$3.3Mraised▾
Seed · Irvine, California · founded 2011
Bidbus is an online used car marketplace that allows users to list and sell their cars to certified dealers through a live auction. The platform connects sellers with a network of dealers who compete to offer the best price for the car.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 69how this company ranks against its industry peers
Tech
top 34%Growth
top 35%Funding
top 41%Talent
bottom 49%Global
bottom 33%Tech: 32 technologies across 5/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare · Devops: Nginx
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Funding: Raised $3.3M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 1 yrs (1.0/yr) · Last round Seed (Jul 2025)
Funding rounds
- Jul 2025Seed$3.3M
Founders & team
Investors
Mucker
Tech stack
ApplovinCloudflareCore-JsFacebook PixelGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Font Api
#9
Acquired · Encino, California · founded 2021 · 18 employees$33.4Mraised▾
Acquired · Encino, California · founded 2021 · 18 employees
Platform facilitating private used car sales with secure transaction management. It offers identity verification, financing options, vehicle protection products, and insurance choices. The platform manages payment processing, document signing, and title transfers. It allows buyers and sellers to negotiate prices and arrange vehicle transport or pickup.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 42how this company ranks against its industry peers
Talent
top 28%Funding
top 31%Growth
top 35%Moat
top 39%Product
top 42%Customers
bottom 44%Talent: 3 named leaders on record · 3 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Funding: Raised $33.4M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 3 yrs (0.7/yr) · Last round Series A (Jul 2024)
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Funding rounds
- Jul 2024Series A$21.4M
- Mar 2023Seed$12M
Founders & team
Investors
Hearst, Primera Capital, Zeev Ventures, Fabrice Grinda
#10
Seed · San Francisco, California · founded 2017 · 80 employees$1Mraised▾
Seed · San Francisco, California · founded 2017 · 80 employees
Manufacturer of buses
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 50how this company ranks against its industry peers
Growth
top 35%Talent
top 38%Funding
top 45%Tech
bottom 42%Global
bottom 39%Moat
bottom 38%Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Funding: Raised $1.0M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 3 yrs (0.7/yr) · Last round Seed (Jul 2025)
Audience (LinkedIn): 22k LinkedIn followers — 5.4% of this cohort's audience
Funding rounds
- Jul 2025Seed$2.8M
- Mar 2024Seed$1M
- Jun 2023Seed—
Founders & team
Investors
APY Ventures, Plug and Play Tech Center, Y Capital, Fark Labs, Keiretsu Forum
Tech stack
CloudflareGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Font ApiGoogle Hosted LibrariesHstsHttp/3
#11
Public · Orange, California · founded 1995 · 893 employees$300Kraised▾
Public · Orange, California · founded 1995 · 893 employees
CarParts is an online retailer of auto parts & accessories. Buyers can browse the listing & find a part they want to buy. Orders can be made via the platform by making an online payment. Their part categories include headlights & lighting, mirrors, engine parts, brakes, suspension, steering, and more.
Funding rounds
- Sep 2025Post IPO$35.7M
- Mar 1999Unattributed$300K
Founders & team
Investors
Premium Auto Parts, CDH, Zongteng Group, BEV Capital
Tech stack
Amazon S3Amazon Web ServicesApple Icloud MailAttentiveBlue TriangleBlueshift
#12
Series C · Palo Alto, California · founded 2017 · 194 employees$213Mraised▾
Series C · Palo Alto, California · founded 2017 · 194 employees
AI-powered car insurance comparison platform. The platform offers information about loans, repair estimation, and more. Users can get quotes from multiple insurance service providers by providing the required details on the platform. The app is available for Android and iOS platforms.
Fliar Intelligence Index™ 72how this company ranks against its industry peers
Moat
top 26%Funding
top 27%Talent
top 28%Product
top 32%Customers
top 32%Patents
top 35%Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 · IP moat: 197 patents · Soonicorn
Funding: Raised $213M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 8 yrs (0.4/yr) · Last round Series C (Aug 2023)
Talent: 3 named leaders on record · 3 C-suite/founder profiles curated
Funding rounds
- Aug 2023Conventional Debt—
- Aug 2023Series C$110M
- Aug 2021Series C$75M
- May 2021Series B$28M
Founders & team
Investors
Goodwater Capital, TriplePoint Capital, Park West Asset Management, Highland Capital Partners, Plug and Play Tech Center, Y Combinator
Tech stack
AsanaNode.JsMuiReactNext.JsStyled-Components
Funding & investor landscape
$5.4Btotal disclosed funding
102companies funded
206disclosed rounds
0rounds last 90 days
Most active investors
Y Combinator7 rounds
SVB4 rounds
Expansion Venture Capital3 rounds
Notable founders
Karolina Visser
Co-Founder / COO · Divergent
Kevin Czinger
Founder · Divergent
Andrew Deitz
Co-Founder & Head of Business Development · Spring Free EV
Priyadarshi Panda
Co-Founder & CEO · IBC
Sasi Kuppannagari
Co-Founder · IBC
Brett Dashe
Head Of Revenue & Co-founder · ServiceUp
Brett Carlson
Co-Founder & CEO · ServiceUp
Nicholas Hinrichsen
CEO / Co-Founder · WithClutch
Ankit Somani
Co-Founder · Conifer
Yateendra Deshpande
Co-Founder · Conifer
Cory Kuang
Co-Founder/CTO · Bidbus
Edward Brojerdi
Co-Founder & Co-CEO · Caramel
Prism market signals · United States · country-scoped Prism corpus, 5,477,462 docs
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Auto coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
RESEARCH IN CALIFORNIA · Mobility
How research on Autonomous Vehicles in California is moving
A read on the academic research around Autonomous Vehicles in California — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 272 papers.
UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and USC lead California's autonomous-vehicle research, focusing on safety and neural networks across 272 papers, with a cautiously optimistic tone (mean stance 0.48) skewed toward breakthroughs.
272 papers · stance +0.48 · 48% breakthrough · 21% concern
top institutions
- University of California, Berkeley69
- University of California, Irvine40
- University of Southern California22
- University of California, San Diego18
- University of California, Davis17
leading researchers
Masayoshi Tomizuka · Jianyu Chen · Wei Zhan · Qi Alfred Chen · Ching‐Yao Chan · Francesco Borrelli
prism intelligence · tone & topics
92% positive · 6% critical tone
Artificial IntelligenceTransportationComputer ScienceMachine LearningAutomotiveRobotics
▲
Breakthroughs116 · 43%
▲ 35%→45% share
▲1.3× share momentum20 median citations72% since 2021mostly methods-led
Computer vision research is surging — papers quadrupled from 3 to 13, driving breakthroughs segment's field-share from 35% to 45%.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
- Computer vision3→13
- Trajectory1→6
- Benchmark (surveying)1→5
- Robustness (evolution)2→6
- Remote sensing1→5
Newly emergingPerception 0→10 · Reinforcement learning 0→8 · Lidar 0→7
Landmark SqueezeDet: Unified, Small, Low Power Fully Convolutional Neural Networks for Real-Time Object Detection for Autonomous · 584 cites
◆
Advancements74 · 27%
▼ 30%→25% share
▼0.8× share momentum13 median citations62% since 2021mostly methods-led
Reinforcement learning advanced from 1 to 7 papers, but advancements segment's overall field-share cooled from 30% to 25%.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
- Reinforcement learning1→7
- Human–computer interaction1→5
- Architecture1→4
- Control theory (sociology)2→5
- Perception1→4
Newly emergingContext (archaeology) 0→3 · Automotive engineering 0→3 · Computer vision 0→3
Landmark Kinematic and dynamic vehicle models for autonomous driving control design · 741 cites
▼
Concerns51 · 19%
▼ 22%→19% share
▼0.9× share momentum9 median citations69% since 2021mostly empirical
Adversarial system and computer security threats newly emerged, signaling intensifying AV vulnerability research across California's autonomous vehicle sector.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
- Humanities2→5
- Philosophy1→3
- Key (lock)1→3
- Systems engineering1→3
Newly emergingAdversarial system 0→4 · Robustness (evolution) 0→3 · Computer security 0→3
Landmark Adversarial Sensor Attack on LiDAR-based Perception in Autonomous Driving · 417 cites
Common questions
How many Auto companies are there in California, United States?
Radar tracks 877 indexable Auto companies headquartered in California, United States that meet our profile-completeness bar.
What is the total funding raised by Auto companies in California, United States?
The Auto companies in California, United States on this list have raised a combined $5.4B in disclosed equity funding across 102 funded companies.
Which is the highest-funded Auto company in California, United States?
QuantumScape is the highest-funded Auto company in California, United States, with $1B in disclosed equity funding.
How many Auto companies in California, United States are funded?
102 of the 877 Auto companies in California, United States on this list have disclosed at least one equity funding round.
How many Auto unicorns are there in California, United States?
2 Auto companies in California, United States on this list are valued at $1B or more.
Who are the top investors in California, United States Auto companies?
The most active investors in California, United States Auto companies on this list include Y Combinator, Western Technology Investment, Plug and Play Tech Center, RPM Ventures, SVB.
Riya SenguptaFinancials
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.