Plus.ai Becomes First Autonomous Trucking Company to Win the ‘451 Firestarter’ Award

Award recognizes Plus.ai for its deep industry partnerships and technology leadership in self-driving trucks

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Plus.ai (www.plus.ai), a leading provider of self-driving truck technology, announced today it has received a ‘451 Firestarter’ Award from leading technology research and advisory firm 451 Research (now part of S&P Global Market Intelligence), recognizing the company for its technology and partnership momentum that paves the way for the commercialization of safe and efficient autonomous trucks.

451 Research’s Firestarter Award recognizes exceptional innovation within the technology industry, and highlights organizations that the 451 analyst team believes significantly contribute to overall technological innovation and have the biggest potential to disrupt the market. In a research report of Plus.ai, 451 research analyst Mark Fontecchio wrote: “Plus.ai’s partnerships with trucking OEMs in both North America and China, along with its experience in testing highly automated heavy trucks on highways, give it advantages compared with competitors.”

“Plus.ai knows that achieving the vision of safer highways through the use of autonomous trucks requires not only our cutting edge self-driving technology, but also our supportive ecosystem of shippers, truck makers, Tier 1 suppliers, and regulators. We are honored to be recognized as a 451 ‘Firestarter’ as another validation of our technology and business progress to deliver the industry’s first autonomous truck,” said Shawn Kerrigan, COO and co-founder of Plus.ai.

Plus.ai’s progress is possible through the continued expansion of its team, safety testing, and partnerships. Dennis Mooney, a 40-year industry veteran and former Navistar and GM Senior Executive, is the latest addition to the company’s Advisory Board. Plus.ai’s expansive safety testing spans from computer simulations, to closed road tests, and public road tests in 17 states to date. Partnering with Tier 1 suppliers, truck makers, regulators, and Fortune 500 private shippers remains integral to validating Plus.ai’s automated driving technology that will bring safer and more efficient trucks to market. Intelligent trucks powered by Plus.ai’s self-driving system and developed for the China market with its JV partner, FAW, China’s largest truck maker, will hit production in 2021.

About Plus.ai

Plus.ai is a world leader in self-driving truck technology. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the company was founded in 2016 by a group of serial entrepreneurs and industry veterans with over 20 years of experience in high tech and artificial intelligence. Plus.ai specializes in providing full-stack self-driving technology to enable large scale autonomous commercial transport. Plus.ai is currently working with some of the leading truck manufacturers, largest shippers, and top fleet operators.