Gatik, an autonomous vehicle startup, has announced a significant partnership with Loblaw, Canada’s largest retailer, to deploy 20 autonomous trucks for middle-mile deliveries in the greater Toronto area by the end of 2025. This deal marks a major step in Gatik's operations, as the trucks will autonomously manage deliveries to over 300 retail locations. Concurrently, Kodiak Robotics has gone public via a merger with Ares Acquisition Corporation II, valuing the company at approximately $2.5 billion. Kodiak aims to enhance its self-driving truck technology for highway and industrial use, having raised $275 million in funding. The public debut comes amid a broader trend of increasing investment and interest in autonomous vehicle technology, despite ongoing challenges in the sector.