Plus.ai Enters Joint Venture With Chinese Truck Maker FAW Jiefang
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Plus.ai, a startup providing self-driving technology, announced a joint venture to develop autonomous trucks with FAW Jiefang, China’s oldest and largest truck manufacturer.
The joint venture’s first product, now launched in China, is a “production class” Level 2 semi-autonomous truck, built on Plus.ai’s Level 4 autonomous technology stack.
Tested through pilots in the U.S. and China, the FAW J7 L2 truck offers semi-autonomy to automate driving activities and reduce human error and driver fatigue, and provide safety improvements and fuel optimization, according to Cupertino, Calif.-based Plus.ai, which was founded in 2016.
The FAW J7 L2 was created to address the desire of shippers and fleet operators to start using the semi-autonomous technology that is available today. At the same time, the joint venture’s plans call for developing a Level 4 heavy truck in the next three to five years.
SAE International defines Level 2 automated driving as technology that provides steering, braking and acceleration to support the driver through adaptive cruise control and lane centering — with constant driver supervision needed. Level 4 autonomy is when the truck can drive itself under certain conditions without driver input or backup assistance.
Plus.ai also reported it is also working with some truck manufacturers, shippers and fleet operators in the U.S. — Transport Topics
