CES 2026: Kodiak and Bosch Partner to Scale Autonomous Trucking Hardware
Kodiak has entered a strategic agreement with Bosch to scale production-grade autonomous trucking hardware, aiming to accelerate commercial deployment of driverless trucks.
Kodiak AI has announced a strategic agreement with Bosch to scale the manufacturing of production-grade autonomous trucking hardware, marking a significant step toward large-scale deployment of driverless trucks. The collaboration was revealed ahead of CES 2026, where a Kodiak Driver-powered autonomous truck will be displayed at Bosch’s booth in Las Vegas.
The partnership focuses on building a redundant, automotive-grade platform that integrates hardware, firmware, and software interfaces required to deploy Kodiak’s AI-powered virtual driver at scale. By combining Kodiak’s autonomy software with Bosch’s manufacturing expertise and supply chain capabilities, the companies aim to move autonomous trucking beyond pilots and into sustained commercial operations.
Scaling Physical AI for Heavy-Duty Trucks
Kodiak’s autonomous system, known as the Kodiak Driver, is designed as a unified platform that blends AI-driven perception and planning software with modular, vehicle-agnostic hardware. The system can be integrated either directly on a truck production line or through aftermarket upfitters, giving fleet operators flexibility in how autonomous capability is deployed.
Under the agreement, Bosch will support the development of a redundant autonomous hardware platform, supplying key components such as sensors, steering systems, and other vehicle actuation technologies. These components are designed to meet automotive-grade reliability standards, a critical requirement for long-haul trucking applications where uptime and safety are paramount.
“Advancing the deployment of driverless trucks and physical AI requires not only robust autonomy software, but also manufacturing experience and a resilient supply chain,” said Don Burnette, founder and chief executive of Kodiak. He emphasized that Bosch’s industrial scale and system-level integration expertise are essential for commercial success.
From Commercial Pilots to Industrial Scale
Kodiak has already deployed trucks operating without human drivers in commercial service, positioning the company as one of the few autonomous trucking developers with real-world revenue-generating operations. The new agreement is intended to build on that foundation by enabling higher-volume production and standardized hardware configurations.
Bosch’s role extends beyond component supply. As the world’s largest automotive supplier, the company brings decades of experience in industrialization, quality assurance, and global manufacturing. This expertise is expected to help Kodiak transition from limited deployments to repeatable, scalable production suitable for fleet-wide adoption.
Paul Thomas, president of Bosch in North America and president of Bosch Mobility Americas, said the collaboration allows Bosch to deepen its understanding of real-world autonomous vehicle requirements while contributing production-grade systems to the broader autonomous mobility ecosystem.
CES 2026 and the Push Toward Autonomous Freight
Autonomous trucking emerged as a key theme at CES 2026, with increasing emphasis on commercialization rather than experimental prototypes. Kodiak and Bosch used the event to highlight how Physical AI systems are moving into operational environments where reliability, redundancy, and cost efficiency matter as much as technical performance.
The Kodiak Driver-powered truck on display demonstrates how the integrated platform brings together sensors, compute, and vehicle control into a single autonomous system. Unlike many earlier demonstrations, the focus is on readiness for deployment rather than future concepts.
Industry analysts view the partnership as a sign that autonomous trucking is entering a more mature phase, where partnerships with established automotive suppliers are essential to overcoming manufacturing and regulatory hurdles.
Broader Implications for Autonomous Logistics
For Kodiak, the deal supports its long-term vision of becoming a trusted provider of autonomous ground transportation across commercial and public-sector applications. The company has also positioned its technology for use in government and national security contexts, where reliability and safety standards are especially stringent.
The collaboration underscores a broader trend in robotics and automation, where autonomy developers increasingly rely on established industrial partners to bridge the gap between software innovation and large-scale deployment. As Physical AI systems move from test routes to highways and supply chains, the ability to manufacture and support hardware at scale becomes a decisive competitive advantage.
With CES 2026 as the backdrop, the Kodiak-Bosch agreement signals growing confidence that autonomous trucking is transitioning from experimentation to infrastructure, setting the stage for wider adoption in the years ahead.
