The SPAC is back: Kodiak Robotics eyeing a merger

The peculiar intent acquisition institution is “a mode for a tiny backstage institution — often with nary gross — to entree nationalist markets and concern without going done a cumbersome archetypal nationalist offering” notes Alan Adler, erstwhile FreightWaves Detroit bureau chief.

For Kodiak, much gross is connected the horizon. The institution announced successful January that it had sold its driverless RoboTrucks to Atlas Energy Solutions and that Atlas had completed the transportation of 100 loads with the Kodiak-equipped vehicles.

The Bloomberg portion estimates the worth of the transaction could effect successful a combined entity of astir $2 cardinal with Ares vying for Kodiak against rival bidders, according to immoderate of the sources. Bloomberg adds, “A transaction hasn’t been finalized and it’s imaginable presumption could alteration oregon that the talks collapse.”

FreightWaves reached retired to Kodiak Robotics, which declined to comment.

On Tuesday, Volvo Trucks North America announced the redesign of its VNR, the smaller determination haul relative of the VNL, the sleeper tractor whose refresh was announced past year. The merchandise notes that the caller determination haul tractor is simply a 90% redesign compared to the erstwhile truck, with updates to its proprietary information systems. Production volition instrumentality spot astatine Volvo’s New River Valley Plant successful Dublin, Virginia, with income opening successful the coming months.

Specs for the much maneuverable Class 8 see 4×2, 6×2, and 6×4 tractors and consecutive trucks with aggregate assemblage types. The tractor is besides equipped with updated information features arsenic portion of the Volvo Active Safety Platform, including Volvo Active Driver Assist with guardant collision warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise power and automatic exigency braking.

The tractor is estimated to present up to 7.5% improved substance ratio from a operation of amended aerodynamics, powertrain adjustments and idle simplification tech. The VNR’s co-roll exertion volition disengage the driveline connected a downhill people and fto the motortruck rotation for an optimal magnitude of clip to assistance prevention energy.

For powertrain, the tractor has an improved 13-liter engine, the next-gen D13 VGT, which ranges from 405-455 horsepower with 1,450 to 1,850 pound-feet of torque.