Electric truck maker Harbinger is moving aggressively beyond hardware, acquiring autonomous driving software specialist Phantom AI in a bid to tightly integrate advanced driver assistance into its commercial vehicles and open new software revenue streams.

The deal marks Harbinger’s first acquisition and underscores a broader strategy to evolve from a pure-play electric chassis manufacturer into a vertically integrated technology platform. The company has already begun selling its in-house battery packs for energy storage and auxiliary power, with RV maker Airstream as an early customer, and now sees software as the next pillar of its business.

Phantom AI develops advanced driver assistance systems, including features such as lane keeping, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. Harbinger had been using Phantom’s technology on its own medium-duty electric trucks; bringing the software team in-house allows deeper integration and faster development cycles.

Harbinger has already secured a marquee customer for the newly acquired tech. German automotive supplier ZF Group has agreed to license Phantom’s driver assistance software from Harbinger and package it for global automakers. While financial terms were not disclosed, Harbinger expects the software services line to generate millions in near-term revenue, with more substantial returns anticipated as ZF’s passenger-car programs scale later in the decade.

Harbinger co-founder and CEO John Harris argues that medium-duty trucks are overdue for a safety overhaul. Many vehicles in this segment still lack basic features such as backup cameras, lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking, even as they operate in dense urban environments and around vulnerable road users.

By pairing its electric chassis with Phantom’s software, Harbinger aims to offer fleets a package that lowers total cost of ownership, cuts emissions and significantly improves safety. The company believes that bringing mainstream, proven driver-assistance capabilities into work trucks will resonate with operators facing rising liability concerns and tightening regulatory expectations.

Phantom AI’s roughly 30 employees, including its leadership, will remain based in Mountain View, California, while Harbinger continues to operate from its Los Angeles headquarters. The distributed footprint is intended to preserve Phantom’s engineering culture and talent base as the combined company pushes to make advanced driver assistance standard in the commercial truck market.