International Motors, LLC and autonomous driving software leader PlusAI are accelerating the path to commercializing Level 4 autonomous trucks. This major industry collaboration leverages the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Hyperion platform to create factory-built autonomous vehicles specifically designed for large-scale freight operations. For fleet managers overseeing Class 6-8 trucks, this development promises significant gains in operational safety and efficiency.

Advancing Safety Through AI Technology

The core of this advancement lies in the seamless integration of specialized technology across three industry leaders. PlusAI contributes its proprietary SuperDrive™ AI-based autonomous driving software, which has been refined over six million miles of real-world driving. Consequently, this extensive real-world experience ensures dynamic adaptation to diverse routes and challenging driving conditions.

Furthermore, the partnership utilizes NVIDIA’s high-performance compute architecture, the DRIVE AGX Thor, which is purpose-built for the complex AI workloads required for safe, driverless operation in long-haul trucking. International autonomous trucks will be engineered from the factory floor up with redundancy, sensor fusion (using lidar, radar, and cameras), and high-speed AI inference for robust perception and planning. You can read the official announcement on the International Newsroom here.

Boosting Uptime and Reliability for Fleets

Reliability and uptime are paramount concerns for fleet managers, and this partnership addresses them directly by prioritizing excellence in manufacturing and service. International brings nearly 200 years of manufacturing expertise and a vast dealer network, essential for servicing and maintaining these advanced vehicles. Moreover, the strategy is focused on scalable, factory-built autonomy designed to meet the rigorous real-world performance expectations of large fleets. David Liu, CEO of PlusAI, emphasizes the necessity of “relentless rigor in safety, reliability, and excellence in large-scale manufacturing.”

Therefore, this collaboration ensures that the autonomous solutions will deliver real value to the freight industry, maximizing uptime and minimizing unexpected downtime through proactive support. In addition, the collaboration aligns with the industry’s shift toward sustainable mobility by creating cleaner and safer commercial transport solutions (Learn more about PlusAI’s platform at www.plus.ai).

A Look Toward the Future of Freight

This three-way collaboration marks a key milestone in transforming commercial transportation. By combining International’s proven vehicle platform and customer insights with PlusAI’s AI-native software and NVIDIA’s automotive-grade computing, the industry is moving closer to widespread deployment of reliable autonomous freight solutions. Fleet managers should follow the continued progress as the technology moves closer to production, offering a clear path to safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective logistics operations.

Also read: PM Schedules: Your Key to Uptime