AI related investment has become a key pillar of US economic growth, and that same demand for computing power depends heavily on how people and cargo move. Electric and self driving vehicle companies sit right in that crossroads of chips, software and real world transport. Ignore the hype cycle and you still have a big structural shift. This article walks through three stocks from our electric and autonomous vehicle screener that may be worth a closer look.
The three stocks below are just a short list from the idea, and the full screen surfaced 21 more companies with equally detailed electric and autonomous vehicle narratives that are not covered here.
If you want to identify, compare, and analyze the wider opportunity set straight away, head into the Electric/ Autonomous Vehicle Stocks screener .
EnerSys (ENS)
EnerSys is best known for industrial batteries and power systems, and its Industrial Mobility Solutions arm links directly to the screener theme by supplying energy storage for electric forklifts, material handling equipment, and Class 8 trucks. Segment Adjustment revenue is reported at about US$3.8b, while the group's market cap sits near US$6.3b.
EnerSys is not a pure play on passenger EVs. However, its wiring into electric forklifts and heavy trucks makes it a practical way to follow electrified fleets while still owning a diversified stored energy business.
"Ongoing growth in AI driven data center loads and concerns about grid reliability are supporting increased adoption of EnerSys backup and energy storage systems, which can add to revenue and support earnings as more of the installed base enters replacement cycles."
The key question for investors is what happens to EnerSys' earnings profile if one crucial cost and capacity bet lands exactly as management expects.
If that call on cost and capacity is what really matters for EnerSys, then the full narrative for EnerSys explains how that bet could accelerate or stall returns.
Hesai Group (HSAI)
Hesai Group builds LiDAR sensors that act as the eyes for autonomous and electric vehicles, plus delivery and cleaning robots, which ties it directly into the AV supply chain.
"Deliveries hit 1.62 million units in 2025, up more than 220% year-over-year. Even more striking, Q4 alone exceeded the full-year shipments of 2024."
What matters next is how one quiet shift in pricing power and unit economics feeds through to future margins and investor outcomes.
That shift in unit economics is exactly what the full narrative for Hesai Group unpacks, showing where Hesai Group's pricing power could be accelerating faster than headline delivery numbers suggest.
Caterpillar (CAT)
Caterpillar links into the electric and autonomous vehicle theme through its autonomous haulage systems, electrified mining and construction machines, and MineStar software. Most revenue still comes from a broad heavy equipment and power portfolio that generates US$34.7b from Power & Energy, US$29.2b from Construction Industries, and US$13.4b from Resource Industries, supporting a US$327.9b market cap.
Caterpillar provides a different angle on the theme, since its self driving and electric equipment runs in mines and on construction sites rather than on public roads. That industrial focus underpins the demand case for its power systems and automation stack.
"Rapid growth in Power & Energy, including 72% sales to users growth in power generation for data center applications and customer orders for large engines and turbines extending out to 2029 and 2030, indicates a long runway of AI driven power projects that can add to revenue and support operating margins as new capacity is utilized."
The key factor to watch is what happens to Caterpillar's profitability if one cost pressure intersects with that long dated demand pipeline at an unfavorable time.
That timing risk is exactly what the full narrative for Caterpillar unpacks, showing how Caterpillar's AI power buildout and cost curve could be quietly decoupling from headline demand.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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