Kodiak AI Receives California Permit for Autonomous Truck Testing

The California Department of Motor Vehicles issued a drivered testing permit to Kodiak AI, Inc. on August 13, 2026. The permit falls under the DMV's expanded Autonomous Vehicle Tester program, which for the first time allows developers of heavy-duty autonomous vehicles to test their technology on public roads.

Under the current phased regulatory approach, Kodiak AI must maintain a human safety driver in the vehicle. The DMV intends to transition from this drivered phase to driver-out testing and eventually full driver-out deployment.

Kodiak AI leadership stated that these regulations allow the company to begin scaling autonomous trucking coast-to-coast. The company noted that the framework provides a balance between enabling innovation and maintaining necessary regulatory oversight and enforcement mechanisms.