Kodiak AI, a U.S.-based autonomous trucking company, has strengthened its partnership with ZF, one of the world’s largest suppliers of commercial vehicle technology, through the purchase of 100 redundant steering systems. The collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing fail-operational control and reliability across Kodiak’s growing fleet of fully driverless trucks.
ZF’s ReAX adaptive electronic steering assist and next-generation Electric Power Steering (EPS) solutions will be integrated into Kodiak’s driverless platforms. These systems incorporate redundant actuators designed to ensure continuous steering capability even in the event of a component failure—an essential safety feature for commercial-scale autonomous operations. “At ZF, our goal is to enhance the autonomous vehicle industry with innovative, redundant steering solutions that improve safety, precision, and reliability,” said Praful Bari, Head of Application Engineering, Commercial Vehicle Solutions at ZF.
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Kodiak first implemented ZF’s redundant steering technology in its sixth-generation autonomous truck, unveiled in 2024. The steering systems are now being upfitted at Roush’s facility in Livonia, Michigan, where Kodiak’s trucks are equipped with the company’s proprietary Kodiak Driver software and integrated hardware systems. ZF’s scalable production capabilities have enabled the rapid rollout of these systems to support Kodiak’s commercial expansion.
“Kodiak and ZF have collaborated since our founding,” said Jamie Hoffacker, Vice President of Hardware at Kodiak AI. “ZF’s technologies and engineering expertise have been critical in achieving the safety and reliability standards necessary for commercial deployment of driverless semi-trucks.”
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This latest milestone underscores the trucking industry’s shift toward redundant-by-design architectures, ensuring autonomous vehicles can operate safely without human intervention. By combining ZF’s steering innovations with Kodiak’s AI-driven autonomy stack, the partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of safe, scalable, and commercially viable driverless freight solutions across North America.