Roush Teams Up With Kodiak Robotics To Unleash Self-Driving Trucks On American Roads
Kodiak Robotics has partnered with Roush Industries to upfit self-driving trucks, marking an …
24. June 2025
Roush Teams Up With Kodiak Robotics To Unleash Self-Driving Trucks On American Roads
Kodiak Robotics has partnered with Roush Industries to upfit self-driving trucks, marking an important milestone in the development and commercialization of autonomous vehicles for the trucking industry. The collaboration will enable the production line to accommodate a wide range of vehicle configurations, including different vehicle types, cab styles, axle setups, and heavy-duty applications.
Roush Industries, based in Livonia, Michigan, will leverage its capabilities to upfit Kodiak’s trucks with its proprietary modular hardware, which includes sensor pods, AI compute, actuation safety control compute, and redundant actuation elements. The production line dedicated to scaling up the fitment of trucks with Kodiak’s technology is expected to be operational in the second half of this year.
The first trucks to be upfitted are destined for Atlas Energy Solutions, a long-standing customer of Kodiak Robotics. In July last year, Kodiak and Atlas completed their first driverless operation together in the Permian Basin in West Texas, marking an important step towards commercializing autonomous trucking. This collaboration is crucial for the trucking industry, which operates diverse fleets with varying requirements.
Brad Rzetelny, Roush’s vice president of contract manufacturing, expressed his confidence in the partnership: “Together, we’re working to build a robust and repeatable manufacturing process that supports Kodiak’s transition from limited production to full-scale deployment. Kodiak’s technology and engineering rigor set a high bar, and we believe we are uniquely positioned to meet that bar at scale.” Don Burnette, Kodiak founder and CEO, emphasized the importance of flexibility in meeting customer needs: “We believe that Roush’s strong quality management processes will ensure our customers’ Kodiak Driver-powered trucks are built to exacting standards, while giving us the manufacturing flexibility to support a wide range of vehicle configurations.”
The partnership comes at a pivotal time for Kodiak Robotics, which has recently announced its intention to go public via a merger with Ares Acquisition Corp II, a special acquisition company. This deal values Kodiak at around $2.5 billion and is expected to close in the second half of this year. The company currently holds an order of 100 trucks from Atlas Energy Solutions.
The growth of autonomous trucking has significant implications for the industry, with potential benefits including reduced labor costs, improved safety, and increased efficiency. As companies like Kodiak Robotics continue to push the boundaries of innovation, partnerships between technology providers and manufacturing experts will play a crucial role in commercializing these developments.
Regulators and industry leaders have emphasized the need for robust safety standards and regulatory frameworks to govern the development and deployment of autonomous technology. The partnership between Kodiak Robotics and Roush Industries demonstrates a commitment to addressing these concerns while driving innovation in the trucking industry. By working together, the companies aim to establish a high-quality manufacturing process that supports the growth of autonomous trucks, while also ensuring the safety and reliability of these vehicles on public roads.
The collaboration between Kodiak and Roush will enable the production line to accommodate diverse fleets with varying requirements. This flexibility is crucial for the industry, which operates different vehicle types, cab styles, axle setups, and heavy-duty applications. By working together, Kodiak and Roush aim to establish a robust manufacturing process that supports the growth of autonomous trucks.
Kodiak Robotics’ technology has set a high bar in terms of engineering rigor, and the partnership with Roush Industries will enable them to meet this standard at scale. The company’s focus on customer needs and flexibility is crucial for the industry, which requires diverse fleets with varying requirements. As autonomous technology continues to evolve and improve, partnerships between technology providers and manufacturing experts will be crucial in commercializing these developments.
The growth of autonomous trucking has significant implications for the industry, with potential benefits including reduced labor costs, improved safety, and increased efficiency. Partnerships like the one between Kodiak Robotics and Roush Industries serve as models for how companies can work together to drive innovation and growth in the industry, while also addressing concerns around safety and regulation.
As autonomous technology continues to evolve, it is essential that regulatory frameworks and safety standards are put in place to govern its development and deployment. The partnership between Kodiak Robotics and Roush Industries demonstrates a commitment to this goal, and their collaboration will be crucial in driving innovation and growth in the industry.
The partnership marks an important milestone in the commercialization of autonomous trucking, and it highlights the importance of partnerships between technology providers and manufacturing experts. By working together, companies like Kodiak Robotics and Roush Industries can drive innovation and address concerns around safety and regulation, ultimately leading to improved efficiency, reduced labor costs, and increased safety on public roads.