Aurora and Kodiak AI begin self-driving truck testing in California

Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI have received permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test their autonomous trucking technology on public roads, with Kodiak AI already initiating operations. These permits follow updated regulations approved on April 28, which lifted a previous ban on driverless vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds and established a regulatory framework for autonomous heavy-duty vehicle testing and deployment.

Both companies met the DMV's criteria, which include requirements for safety, insurance, and vehicle registration. The permits mandate the presence of a human safety operator behind the wheel and prohibit operation on roads with posted speed limits of 25 mph or less, unless on a direct route between destinations.

Despite these advancements, the prospect of autonomous trucks on California highways faces opposition. Last week, Teamsters California filed a lawsuit against the DMV, alleging that the agency bypassed legal requirements for studying and disclosing the potential economic impacts of such technology. The lawsuit also claims the DMV failed to adequately consider safety risks to other motorists.

Previously, Aurora and Kodiak focused their testing and deployment efforts in Texas due to California's ban on autonomous heavy-duty trucks. Aurora launched a service between Dallas and Houston in May 2025, expanding to other routes, while Kodiak began driverless operations in an off-road environment in West Texas before expanding to on-highway routes, including between Dallas and Houston.