PlusAI Nears Public Listing, Aims to Launch Driverless Trucks in 2027

PlusAI, a developer of autonomous trucking software, is preparing to become a publicly traded company. Shareholders will vote on February 3 on a merger with Churchill Capital Corp IX, a deal that would list the company on Nasdaq under the ticker "PLS" and provide up to $300 million in capital. This marks the company's second attempt to go public via a SPAC after a 2021 plan was abandoned.

The funding is intended to support the commercial launch of factory-built autonomous trucks in 2027. CEO David Liu calls 2026 an "inflection point" for the pre-revenue company, which has tested its SuperDrive system over six million miles on public roads. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission declared the merger's registration statement effective on January 12, following a six-month review.

PlusAI reports its technology is nearing commercial readiness. A key safety metric reached 90.1% in late 2025, a significant increase from prior years. The company is conducting trials with safety drivers in Texas and has pilot programs in Europe and Japan. Its strategy hinges on partnerships with established truck manufacturers like Traton and Iveco, embedding its software directly at the factory rather than retrofitting existing vehicles.

Liu, a founder with several successful exits, argues this manufacturer-led approach is essential for gaining trust from large freight fleets. The company projects a path to generating revenue starting this year, with a goal of having over 25,000 autonomous trucks on the road by 2031. The move comes as the freight industry continues to grapple with a shortage of human drivers, a problem autonomous technology aims to solve.

Source: Webpronews