Kodiak Robotics Plans $2.5 Billion SPAC Merger

Kodiak Robotics is set to go public through a merger with Ares Acquisition Corp II, valuing the autonomous truck technology firm at $2.5 billion. The newly combined entity will be named Kodiak AI and is expected to receive approximately $551 million in cash from Ares Acquisition’s trust account, along with over $110 million in investments from firms like Soros Fund Management and ARK Investments. Founded in 2018, Kodiak specializes in AI-powered driverless truck technology, with its software having logged over 2.6 million miles in real-world conditions. The merger aims to enhance Kodiak's growth in the autonomous trucking market, addressing challenges such as driver shortages and rising logistics costs. The transaction is anticipated to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals, and will position Kodiak to capitalize on a global market opportunity in autonomous trucking. CEO Don Burnette emphasized that this move would expand partnerships and improve the technology’s reach across the commercial trucking sector.