Companies Kodiak Robotics, Inc FollowSAN FRANCISCO, June 22 (Reuters) - Autonomous truck technology firm Kodiak Robotics will equip its self-driving software in 800 trucks for logistics platform Loadsmith, the companies said in a statement on Thursday. Instead, investor focus has shifted to companies that offer less-complex, less-cash intensive forms of autonomy with a proven business model. Kodiak and Lordsmith said pairing autonomous trucks for long haul with local drivers will improve efficiency and safety for shippers, and help allay concerns over a nationwide driver shortage. There will be no safety driver involved in the autonomous part of the operations for Loadsmith, a Kodiak spokesperson said. California-based Kodiak partners with companies such as Swedish furniture giant IKEA and France-based CEVA Logistics for freight deliveries in Texas.

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Persons: Lordsmith, Abhirup Roy, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Kodiak Robotics, FRANCISCO, Kodiak Driver, Loadsmith, Kodiak, Logistics, U.S . Army, Thomson Locations: Kodiak, Loadsmith's U.S, California, France, Texas, San Francisco