PlusAI and the TRATON Group have expanded their global partnership as the companies move closer to commercializing autonomous, on-highway trucking in the U.S. and Europe. The agreement builds on a collaboration first announced in 2024 and is aimed at accelerating factory-integrated autonomous truck deployment across TRATON’s global brands.
Under the expanded partnership, TRATON plans to provide up to $25 million in non-dilutive research and development funding to support the integration of PlusAI’s SuperDrive autonomous driving software into production vehicles. The companies said the funding will help advance development, validation, and industrialization of autonomous trucking platforms.
As part of the agreement, TRATON will also nominate a representative to PlusAI’s board of directors following PlusAI’s planned public listing through a business combination with Churchill Capital Corp IX. TRATON is additionally eligible to receive private warrants tied to initial autonomous deployment revenue milestones, aligning incentives around commercialization progress.
The collaboration positions SuperDrive as the on-highway autonomous platform for multiple TRATON brands, including Scania, MAN, and International. The companies said they have already completed fleet trials in Texas, advanced driverless safety maneuver validation, and integrated NVIDIA-powered development platforms as part of their progress toward Level 4 autonomy.
Executives from both companies said the expanded partnership reflects growing confidence in the readiness of autonomous trucking technology and the importance of close collaboration between software developers and vehicle manufacturers. By combining PlusAI’s AI-based virtual driver system with TRATON’s global manufacturing scale, the partners aim to bring factory-built autonomous trucks to market and support broader adoption by commercial fleets.
