Bridgestone invests in US autonomous trucking company 

Nashville, Tennessee – Bridgestone Americas has made a minority investment in US-based self-driving trucking company Kodiak Robotics, it was announced 16 June. 

The partnership will see Bridgestone integrating its smart-sensing tire technologies and fleet solutions into Kodiak's level 4 autonomous trucks, the tire maker said in a statement. 

The companies will also pilot future autonomous and smart tire technologies to enhance vehicle intelligence and develop “a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable mobility future.”     

"Automated vehicles offer a number of benefits to commercial fleet customers and society, including safer roads with fewer unexpected incidents, and upwards of 20% savings in fuel and efficiency," said Paolo Ferrari, president & CEO, Bridgestone Americas. 

Tire-centric technologies, he went on to say, are an important part of mobility innovations. 

The investment, according to Ferrari, will enable Bridgestone and Kodiak to work together to co-develop advanced mobility solutions with speed and precision “that will revolutionise commercial trucking."

Kodiak moves freight autonomously for its customers using its fleet of level 4 self-driving long-haul trucks in the state of Texas with a safety driver on board. 

The company plans to deploy driverless trucks in the next few years and will require “full vehicle intelligence” for safety.

Bridgestone expects to provide its cloud-based technologies to help predict tire health and maintenance to enhance safety and efficiency of the vehicles.