Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI have received the necessary permits to test their autonomous driving trucks on public roads in California. Kodiak has officially begun testing with a small number of test vehicles around its Mountain View office.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) lifted the ban on testing driverless vehicles over £10,000 on public roads under updated rules approved on April 28. This regulation allows companies to test and potentially deploy autonomous vehicles in the heavy vehicle category.

Testing Process and Safety Rules

Kodiak and Aurora obtained the permits by meeting the DMV’s strict criteria regarding safety, insurance, vehicle registration, and safety driver qualifications. Current permits require a safety operator to be behind the wheel at all times and prohibit vehicles from operating on roads with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less, except on designated routes.

Companies previously conducted extensive testing in Texas due to restrictions in California. Aurora, which launched its service on the Dallas-Houston border in May 2025, expanded to areas such as Fort Worth-El Paso and Phoenix, while Kodiak began its commercial driverless operations in Texas in January 2025.

Legal Debates and Reactions

The presence of autonomous trucks on California highways is facing some backlash in the state. Teamsters California has filed a lawsuit against the DMV in Alameda County Superior Court, arguing that the agency failed to adequately consider the economic impacts and inform the public.

The lawsuit alleges that the DMV ignored the safety risks that driverless trucks could pose to other vehicles on the road. The companies state that the new regulations allow them to develop technology in the state where their headquarters are located. How do you think the proliferation of autonomous trucks on highways will affect traffic safety?