Here's Where To Invest If You Believe In Self-Driving Cars

The Internet of Things has seen a flurry of innovation over the past few years as firms look to automate more and more aspects of the public's life. One of the most talked about developments in the growing push for automation has been self-driving cars, something several companies claim they will have up and running within the next decade. Although critics say a driverless car is still far from becoming a reality, some investors are looking to get in on the ground floor by investing in companies that are developing this type of technology. Big Names Google Inc. GOOG has been a big name in driverless technology; the company recently announced that it was working to begin testing its version of a self driving car as early as the end of 2015. Apple Inc. AAPL has also been rumored to be working on its own self driving prototype. In February, Sony SNE tested the driverless car waters by investing more than $800,000 into a Japanese startup that focuses on developing autonomous vehicle technology. Components Big name companies aren't the only ones who stand to benefit from a driverless car revolution. Companies like Mobileye NV MBLY, which designs sensors that alert drivers of possible collisions and STMicroelectronics STM, which makes Mobileye's sensors, are also great plays in the autonomous vehicle space. Dutch navigation company TomTom TMOAF could also see amajor revival with the advent of driverless cars as the company's extensive location data could become a necessity for firms looking to roll out automated cars.