Travis Kalanick’s Atoms Startup Reportedly Gearing Up for Major Robotaxi Push

Earlier this summer, Travis Kalanick’s startup Atoms announced a $1.7 billion funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. However, even after securing that substantial investment, the Uber founder remained notably reserved about the company’s specific direction.

A recent report from the Financial Times now sheds light on Atoms’ ambitions. According to the publication, the startup is preparing for an aggressive hiring push alongside strategic acquisitions that could position it as a significant contender in the autonomous vehicle sector.

The FT further reported that Atoms has engaged in discussions with Uber regarding how the ride-hailing giant could potentially integrate the startup’s robotaxi technology. Notably, Uber has already established partnerships with numerous autonomous vehicle companies. The report also highlighted that Uber invested $100 million in Atoms, a figure that TechCrunch had previously confirmed.

While sources stressed that robotaxis do not encompass the full scope of Atoms’ strategy, this focus aligns with Kalanick’s characterization of the funding round as “unfinished business.”

This direction also corresponds with Atoms’ earlier acquisition of Pronto, an autonomous mining startup previously led by Anthony Levandowski, Uber’s former head of self-driving technology. Levandowski was convicted of stealing trade secrets and sentenced to 18 months in prison, though he was later pardoned by President Donald Trump.

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