From Hybrids to EVs to Autonomous Cars, Here's What's Coming When

The auto industry has reached a critical mass of sorts as automakers line up their future plans to produce electric and autonomous vehicles, or both.

Neither of these technologies is entirely new, of course. There already exists a wide variety of hybrid vehicles, and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) are becoming more popular as manufacturers bridge the gap between well-established gas-electric hybrid technology and fully-electric cars. And then we're seeing the steady progression of those all-electric models, particularly at the entry level, where mainstream automakers are stretching driving range capabilities, with cars like the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, to get closer to the point Tesla is already at with its Model S and Model X and their near-six-figure starting price tags.

In order to help you (and us, if we're being quite honest) keep track of which automaker is where with electric and autonomous vehicle technology, here are a couple of handy tables listing 40 automakers, mainstream and otherwise, showing which ones already have various levels of electrified vehicles and semi-autonomous technology in the marketplace, and when those that don't say they will.

Keep in mind, the dates we list here for the introduction of future BEVs and PHEVs are based on manufacturer plans announced mostly before the current US administration took office, whose re-examination of fuel economy mandates and other policies may shift some timelines.

Tracking autonomous vehicle progress is less black-and-white, because while the technology exists in theory, it's technically not legal yet in production vehicles. Therefore, the table below shows which manufacturers we know to have semi-autonomous driving features available (like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist), as well as which ones have announced deadlines for the introduction of fully-autonomous cars. All of this is presented with the caveat that regulations on self-driving cars and countless other factors could affect these timelines. It's one thing to have a self-driving vehicle ready to go, but quite another to be permitted to sell it as such.