Volkswagen and Tesla Motors Help D20 Break a New Barrier

The Driverless Transportation Weekly Stock Index (D20) rose 1.4 percent to break the 180 barrier for the first time and close at 180.75 last week, thanks in part to gains by Volkswagen and Tesla Motors.

Thirteen price gainers compared to seven losers ensured that the D20 hit a new high.

The D20 was led by Volkswagen (VLKPY), which jumped 8.3 percent to $31.64, particularly after the debut of the I.D. Buzz autonomous-capable VW Bus at the Detroit Auto Show.

Volkswagen’s gain was supported by Visteon (VC), which rose 5.1 percent, and Tesla (TSLA), whose six consecutive weeks of gains have pushed its stock price to $237.75.

The D20 outperformed the Dow and the S&P 500 this week.  While the D20 rose, the Dow lost 0.4 percent to close at 19885.73 and the S&P sunk 0.1 percent ending the week at 2274.64.

Visit the Driverless Transportation D20 Stock Index page to learn more about it and its component stocks.

Up-and-Comers:

Starship Technologies has raised an investment round of $17.2 million with Daimler as the lead investor. U.K.-based Starship’s product is a six-wheeled insulated cooler that can autonomously deliver food, hot or cold.  Starship founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Fiis, also founders of Skype, hope that their rolling delivery drones are a hit on sidewalks around the world.