NOVI, Mich. — Stoneridge Inc. is collaborating with Kodiak AI Inc. to advance autonomous commercial trucks.
The collaboration begins with Stoneridge’s MirrorEye Camera Monitor System (CMS), which is incorporated in newly deployed trucks equipped with the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s AI-powered autonomous driving system. The two companies plan to explore integrating additional Stoneridge technology into Kodiak Driver-equipped trucks.
Kodiak’s proprietary SensorPods replace conventional side mirrors on the truck cab, providing enhanced visibility. These SensorPods have, until now, included conventional rear-vision mirrors as required by U.S. regulations for commercial trucks.
FMCSA Exemption
Stoneridge’s CMS was the first to receive an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that authorizes motor carriers to operate MirrorEye-equipped trucks without conventional rear-vision mirrors. FMCSA renewed the exemption in 2024 for five years. Because MirrorEye’s cameras sit in a compact wing above the cab door, the exemption gives Kodiak the ability to design future SensorPods without traditional mirrors, making them smaller, lighter, easier to replace and more aerodynamic.
As part of the collaboration, Stoneridge and Kodiak will explore how to further integrate Stoneridge technologies into Kodiak’s autonomous vehicle platform and develop solutions that improve how vehicle data is processed.
MirrorEye
“MirrorEye was developed to make commercial vehicles safer by providing drivers and operators a much better view and situational awareness while also delivering meaningful aerodynamic and efficiency benefits,” said Natalia Noblet, president and CEO of Stoneridge. “On Kodiak’s trucks, it becomes part of an autonomous system, and over the next several years we will work with Kodiak to explore ways our cameras and other technology can support that system more directly. We are excited to partner with Kodiak to advance autonomous trucking and to bring Stoneridge technology to that work.”
MirrorEye replaces traditional mirrors with exterior digital cameras and in-cab high-definition displays. Stoneridge has produced more than 200,000 MirrorEye systems globally since 2020, and the system is offered through six global OEM programs and through retrofit installations with more than 40 fleet partners in North America.
Safe Deployment of Autonomous Trucks
“Our collaboration with Stoneridge involving its MirrorEye technology represents an important component of Kodiak’s preparations for the safe deployment of driverless technology at scale,” said Jamie Hoffacker, senior vice president of hardware, Kodiak. “We’re excited to explore new ways to deepen our integration and derive further efficiencies and safety benefits from working together.”
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe.
