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.
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