Plus (formerly Plus.ai), an autonomous truck manufacturer, has split its Chinese and US operations into two separate entities in a deal with Full Truck Alliance (FTA), a China-based company that provides a digital freight platform and a key shareholder of Plus.

Under the deal, FTA will focus on Plus' China-based unit, Zhijia Technology, to develop a self-driving truck fleet for the Chinese market, while Plus will operate and expand across other global markets. FTA has also increased its stake in Zhijia Technology. 

The split was prompted by the rising US-China tensions and tightening regulatory oversight from Beijing. 

Analyst QuickTake : This split will enable Plus to enhance its focus on its continued global expansion efforts. The company has tested its Level 2 “PlusDrive”-equipped trucks in Europe and China . In July 2023 , Plus commenced public road testing in Germany, with plans to expand testing to Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland. In August , it announced a partnership with Transurban to test autonomous driving technology in Australia.