Kodiak AI (NASDAQ:KDK) has announced a strategic partnership with Bosch to accelerate the manufacturing and deployment of hardware and sensor systems for self-driving trucks, as the company moves beyond pilot programs toward large-scale commercial operations.
Autonomous technology developers are facing growing pressure from investors to prove sustainable business models after years of heavy investment and limited revenue generation. Many are increasingly targeting the freight sector, where predictable routes and operating economics offer clearer pathways to profitability compared with passenger transport.
Under the agreement, Bosch will supply Kodiak with a broad range of automotive-grade components, including advanced sensors and vehicle actuation technologies such as steering systems. The partnership was unveiled at the CES technology show in Las Vegas, although the companies did not disclose financial terms.
Bosch will also collaborate with Kodiak on the development of a production-ready, redundant autonomous driving platform that integrates hardware, firmware and software interfaces. This platform is intended to support the rollout of Kodiak’s AI-powered driving system either directly on factory production lines or through retrofitting existing trucks.
Kodiak, which became a publicly listed company around three months ago, positions itself as one of the few autonomous trucking firms to operate commercial vehicles without a human safety driver onboard. The company says it has already deployed customer-owned, fully driverless trucks, a milestone that many competitors have yet to reach.
Bosch, the world’s largest automotive supplier by revenue, continues to expand its presence in autonomous mobility by supplying sensors, computing systems and vehicle control technologies to both established automakers and emerging technology firms.