PlusAI's merger with Churchill Capital clears SEC review, paving the way for its public debut in February 2026, enhancing autonomous trucking efforts.
Autonomous trucking technology firm PlusAI is set to debut as a publicly traded company in February 2026 after completing its merger with Churchill Capital Corp IX, reports New York's FreightWaves.
CEO David Liu stated that the company's S-4 filing was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission in late January, paving the way for a shareholder vote. The merger, announced in June 2025, marks a milestone in PlusAI's decade-long effort to commercialize autonomous trucking.
Mr. Liu noted that the SEC review process typically takes three months, followed by four weeks of final preparations before trading begins. Ahead of the listing, PlusAI appointed David C. Peterschmidt and Harry J. Harczak Jr. to its board, effective upon the public debut. Mr. Peterschmidt previously led Inktomi, while Mr. Harczak served as chief financial officer of CDW and will chair the audit committee.
PlusAI has been validating its technology through partnerships with Volkswagen's Traton Group, Scania, and MAN, targeting 2027 for the commercial launch of autonomy-enabled trucks. The company reported safety case readiness at 90 percent, Remote Assistance Free Trips at 79 percent, and Autonomous Miles Percentage at 99.2 percent.
Commercial trials are underway in Texas, with routes connecting Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston. Mr. Liu stressed the importance of original equipment manufacturer partnerships, stating that fleets prefer factory-installed systems from established truck makers rather than retrofits from startups.
In Europe, PlusAI has a Munich-based team and recently launched a three-year pilot with Iveco and SES to deploy Level 4 autonomous trucking across Spain and Germany. The company also announced a partnership with Tokyo-based T2 to accelerate deployment in Japan.
Mr. Liu mentioned that PlusAI expects further announcements in the coming months as it advances toward commercial deployment and strengthens its position as a publicly traded autonomous vehicle technology provider.
