Autonomous trucking software company Plus Automation has moved a step closer to becoming a publicly listed company after US regulators approved a key filing linked to its proposed merger with a special purpose acquisition company.
PlusAI said its registration statement connected to the planned business combination with Churchill Capital Corp IX was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 12, 2026.
The approval clears the way for Churchill Capital Corp IX to hold a shareholder vote on the deal. The company has scheduled an extraordinary general meeting for February 3, 2026, where investors will be asked to approve the merger and related matters.
If approved, the combined company will continue operating under the PlusAI name and is expected to trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “PLS”.
Focus on autonomous trucking rollout
PlusAI develops software for self-driving heavy-duty trucks and is targeting commercial deployment later this decade. The company says it is preparing for a planned 2027 launch of factory-built autonomous trucks equipped with its SuperDrive system.
Since announcing the proposed merger, PlusAI has continued testing its technology in real-world freight operations, including customer fleet trials in Texas along the I-35 corridor between Laredo and Dallas. These trials involve next-generation trucks with factory-installed sensors and onboard computing systems.
The company has also completed driverless safety tests on closed routes, demonstrating emergency manoeuvres and fallback procedures without a human driver in the cab or remote intervention.
Partnerships with truck makers and suppliers
PlusAI is working with several global truck manufacturers, including Traton Group brands International, Scania and MAN, as well as Iveco and Hyundai. The goal is to integrate autonomous driving systems directly into production vehicles rather than relying on aftermarket retrofits.
The company is also collaborating with Nvidia on Level 4 autonomous truck development, using Nvidia’s Drive AGX platform to support high-performance computing and sensor processing.
In Europe, PlusAI has expanded its work with Iveco to launch what it describes as Southern Europe’s first Level 4 autonomous trucking program, with test operations planned on freight routes between Madrid and Zaragoza in partnership with Spanish logistics firm Sesé and regional authorities.
What happens next
The upcoming shareholder vote will determine whether the merger proceeds. If approved, PlusAI would gain access to public markets as it continues development and testing of autonomous trucking systems aimed at long-haul commercial freight.
The company says the merger is intended to support its transition from large-scale trials to commercial deployment, as the autonomous trucking sector moves closer to real-world operations.
