Harbinger, an innovative electric trucking startup, has made a significant move by acquiring Phantom AI, a company specializing in autonomous driving software. This strategic acquisition aims to enhance Harbinger's technological capabilities and open new revenue avenues for the burgeoning company.
This marks Harbinger's inaugural acquisition, aligning with its vision to broaden its offerings beyond the electric truck chassis that has been its focus for the past year. Recently, the company announced plans to market its battery packs for energy storage and auxiliary power, with Airstream as its first customer.
On Wednesday, Harbinger revealed that it has already secured a partnership for Phantom's advanced driver assistance technology. The renowned ZF Group, a leader in automotive technology, will license this technology from Harbinger to supply it to various automakers for passenger vehicles. The specifics of the agreements remain undisclosed.
In an exclusive conversation with TechCrunch, Harbinger's co-founder and CEO, John Harris, expressed optimism about the potential of this new software service line, projecting it to generate millions in revenue this year. Although this figure is relatively modest compared to the anticipated income from truck chassis sales, Harris believes that the ZF Group partnership will yield more substantial returns by 2027 or 2028, as the passenger car market, though slower, offers significant volume.
Harris highlighted that Harbinger had already been utilizing Phantom AI's technology, and the acquisition will strengthen their integration, ultimately benefiting Harbinger's customers.
He noted the pressing need for enhanced safety features in medium-duty trucks, stating that many vehicles currently lack essential safety technologies such as backup cameras and automatic emergency braking. Harbinger aims to address these deficiencies, promising a lower total cost of ownership, improved emissions compliance, and a more user-friendly driving experience, all supported by Phantom's advanced safety features.
As these vehicles often operate in high-risk environments, such as truck ports and residential neighborhoods, the integration of safety technologies is crucial. Harris emphasized the importance of incorporating safety features that have become standard in the automotive industry over the past few years.
While Harbinger's operations are based in Los Angeles, the 30 employees from Phantom AI, including its leadership team, will continue to operate from Mountain View, ensuring that both entities can leverage their strengths effectively.