Kodiak AI Inc. (KDK) stock rose more than 14% in Thursday's premarket trading after gaining nearly 17% on Wednesday. The rally followed two partnerships announced Wednesday aimed at expanding the company's autonomous driving technology in commercial trucking.

Kodiak AI Secures Driverless Truck Deal

Kodiak announced an agreement with DTL Transport to deploy its autonomous driving system in 75 driverless trucks owned and operated by the freight carrier. Under the agreement, DTL will pay Kodiak a per-mile fee through its Driver-as-a-Service model. The trucks will initially operate on routes connecting Dallas with El Paso, Texas, and Atlanta. Kodiak plans to expand service to additional routes over time.

Separately, Kodiak partnered with Stoneridge Inc. (SRI) to integrate its MirrorEye camera monitoring system into trucks equipped with Kodiak's autonomous driving technology. The system replaces conventional mirrors with digital cameras. The companies also plan to explore additional technology integration to improve vehicle efficiency and safety. Kodiak develops AI-powered autonomous driving systems for long-haul trucking, industrial transportation and defense applications.

Elevated Short Interest Adds To Volatility

Kodiak's trading volume surged to 5.07 million shares, exceeding its 100-day average of 3.4 million shares by nearly 49%. The increase signals heightened investor interest. With a market capitalization of about $262.8 million as of Wednesday's close, Kodiak remains a micro-cap stock vulnerable to sharp price swings amid elevated trading activity.

KDK Price Action

KDK Price Action: Kodiak AI shares were up 14.50% at $1.50 during premarket trading on Thursday, according to market data.