June 21, 2026

Humble Robotics raises $24M to develop driverless freight trucks

San Francisco startup Humble Robotics is seeking to introduce driverless freight trucks to California’s roads, having recently raised $24 million to develop an electric, cabless truck designed to reduce costs and emissions. This initiative comes in light of new California DMV regulations that now permit testing of heavy-duty autonomous trucks, lifting a previous ban. However, the venture faces significant pushback from labor unions and safety experts who warn that such technology could threaten jobs and public safety, particularly in a state where truck drivers represent a major part of the workforce.

Aurora: Aurora is a Pittsburgh-based company developing self-driving truck technology that retains traditional cab features like steering wheels. It is positioned as a direct competitor to cabless designs in the autonomous freight space. The company continues to advance its platform for public road operations.
Kodiak: Kodiak is a Bay Area company building self-driving trucks equipped with conventional driver controls. It competes with emerging cabless approaches in the autonomous trucking market. The firm is actively developing and testing its technology for freight applications.
Eyal Cohen: Eyal Cohen is the founder and chief executive of Humble Robotics with nearly two decades of experience in electric and autonomous vehicles. He previously worked at Uber, Apple, and Waabi before launching the startup to focus on cost-effective freight automation. Cohen has emphasized adapting the company’s plans to California’s new regulatory environment.
Dan Sperling: Dan Sperling is the founding director emeritus of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis and an expert on transportation policy and technology. He has commented on the regulatory challenges facing cabless autonomous trucks, noting potential delays in approvals for vehicles without steering wheels or cabs. Sperling has highlighted public perception and safety concerns specific to large driverless rigs.
Eclipse Capital: Eclipse Capital is a Palo Alto-based venture capital firm focused on technology investments. It led the seed funding round for Humble Robotics, supporting the development of its autonomous electric truck platform. The firm participated in the company’s emergence from stealth earlier this year.
Humble Robotics: Humble Robotics is a San Francisco-based startup developing an electric, autonomous, cabless freight truck platform for efficient goods movement. The company is actively pursuing regulatory approvals in California following recent DMV rule changes and plans initial deployments around major ports. Founder Eyal Cohen brings extensive experience in electric and autonomous vehicle technology from prior roles at Uber, Apple, and Waabi.
Teamsters California: Teamsters California is a labor organization representing hundreds of thousands of workers across multiple industries, including trucking. It has publicly opposed California’s updated autonomous vehicle regulations, arguing they endanger jobs and highway safety. The group has stated it will use all available tools to challenge the policy changes.
Energy Impact Partners: Energy Impact Partners is a venture capital firm investing in energy and climate technologies. It co-led the seed funding for Humble Robotics alongside Eclipse Capital. The investment supports efforts to create lower-emission freight solutions.

Regulation: California DMV rules now permit testing of heavy-duty autonomous trucks on public roads after previously banning such vehicles.
Competition: Established autonomous trucking developers continue to pursue designs that include traditional cabs, creating differentiation from cabless platforms.
Labor Concerns: Major unions representing truck drivers have strongly criticized the removal of the autonomous truck ban over potential impacts to employment and road safety.

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