Kodiak AI has received a drivered testing permit under California’s expanded Autonomous Vehicle Tester (AVT) programme, letting it test trucks with a driver aboard. The permit, issued 13 August 2026, is the first granted under the state’s heavy-duty testing rules.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) approved the regulations on 28 April 2026 for heavy-duty autonomous vehicle testing. The permit is the first step in a phased approach moving from drivered testing to driver-out testing and eventually driver-out deployment.

In a statement, Don Burnette, Founder and Chief Executive of Kodiak, said: “California’s comprehensive autonomous vehicle regulations are a major unlock for freight innovation. This permit allows us to begin the first phase of scaling autonomous trucking coast-to-coast, while ensuring appropriate safety oversight from California regulators. We thank Governor Newsom for his leadership in allowing California born-and-bred Physical AI innovators like Kodiak to bring our technology to highways in our home state, creating jobs and increasing roadway safety for all Californians.”

Daniel Goff, Vice President of External Affairs at Kodiak, added: “California’s autonomous trucking regulations have been more than a decade in the making, and are the result of extensive input and thorough reviews from a diverse set of stakeholders. They enable innovation in our home state while providing regulators with appropriate oversight and enforcement mechanisms.”

Source: Kodiak