With more than 3,500 attendees and 500 speakers, this year’s MOVE America in Detroit underscored a pivotal shift in the autonomy conversation. For the first time, the dialogue was less about proving the technology and more about how to commercialize it at scale.
As Bloomberg’s Detroit Bureau Chief David Welch observed, “Autonomous vehicle technology has advanced quite well… you’re seeing deployments in both robotaxis and trucking.”
The business case is clear
When it comes to long-haul trucking, a market of approximately $1.7 trillion in the U.S. and Europe, the math behind autonomy is compelling.
Tobias Glitterstam, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at International, explained: “If you look at the big buckets of cost, it’s the truck itself, fuel, and the driver. The driver is often a third to half of the total.”
The urgency is: a chronic driver shortage, surging freight demand, and the need to improve total cost of ownership while enhancing safety. Autonomous trucking directly addresses all of these.
Partnerships are the key foundation for scaling autonomy
A clear message from Detroit was that no company can commercialize autonomy in isolation. The industry has moved beyond technology demos to deeply integrated, factory-ready programs built for scale, where truck makers own the full vehicle solution and partner with AI companies like Plus for the autonomy software.
Glitterstam emphasized the model International is pursuing: “Our customers want us, as the OEM, to take responsibility for the entire solution.”
In a separate panel discussion, PlusAI’s Amisha Vadalia, VP of Operations and Program Management, emphasized how their OEM-led integration strategy is expected to enable scaling quickly, safely, and efficiently. With partners such as TRATON GROUP’s International, Scania, and MAN, alongside IVECO and Hyundai, PlusAI’s SuperDrive™ virtual driver software is being integrated directly into next-generation truck platforms.
This deep integration approach was also echoed by speakers from other major players such as Lyft and Magna, who spoke about the need to connect hardware, software, and operational systems early rather than bolt on autonomy later.
A turning point for adoption: ecosystem readiness
Technology validation has given way to commercial pilots designed to refine operational readiness. International’s fleet trials with PlusAI in Texas, running freight along the I-35 corridor, exemplify this shift. Managed from International’s San Antonio Autonomous Hub, these pilots are gathering real-world data on uptime, serviceability, and terminal operations—paving the way for scaled deployment.
As Glitterstam said, it is “a big step toward seamless digital operations… proving the commercial viability of autonomous technologies.”
Fleet executives, including FedEx leaders, agreed and shared that fleets are asking practical questions: how autonomous trucks will be serviced, what support networks look like, and how predictable cost models will be when autonomy scales.
Regulators are also catching up. Discussions pointed to growing alignment around safety-case frameworks and a need to move beyond today’s patchwork of state rules toward predictable federal standards, which is a key enabler for nationwide deployment.
Building trust for adoption
Commercial success will hinge not only on economics but also on public trust. In his panel discussion, PlusAI’s Earl Adams Jr., VP of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs, emphasized that “safety is shared responsibility.”
Through PlusAI’s “3Es”—education, exposure, and evaluation—the company is informing the public with facts, giving people firsthand experience with autonomous driving technology and openly sharing performance data to foster understanding and trust.
International’s Business Plan/Strategy Director, James Cooper, added that autonomous driving can help address the trucking industry’s 90% driver turnover and safety challenges by creating a more controlled, data-driven operating environment.
The inflection point is here
Autonomous trucking is at an inflection point. Fleet trials are demonstrating that the technology works. The business case is clear. The planned path forward is commercialization at scale, grounded in deep OEM integration, rigorous safety validation, and ecosystem collaboration and readiness.
PlusAI is focused on achieving factory-built driverless trucks with SuperDrive™ virtual driver ready for targeted commercial launch in 2027, unlocking safer, more efficient freight movement and reshaping one of the world’s largest industries.