Travis Kalanick's Atoms Eyes Robotaxi Market
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The startup is reportedly pursuing hiring and acquisitions to enter the autonomous vehicle space following a $1.7 billion funding round.
Travis Kalanick’s startup, Atoms, is positioning itself to become a significant entity in the autonomous vehicle sector, as TechCrunch first reported. According to reporting from the Financial Times, the company is preparing for a series of acquisitions and a hiring surge to support this objective.
Atoms recently raised $1.7 billion in a funding round spearheaded by Andreessen Horowitz. While Kalanick has previously been vague regarding the company's specific goals, describing the funding as "unfinished business," the Financial Times reports that Atoms has engaged in discussions with Uber regarding the potential use of its robotaxi technology. TechCrunch had previously verified Uber's $100 million investment in Atoms.
This strategic shift is underscored by Atoms' acquisition of Pronto, an autonomous mining company. Pronto was led by Anthony Levandowski, the former head of self-driving technology at Uber, who received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump following a conviction for stealing trade secrets.
Sources cited by the Financial Times indicate that while robotaxis are a primary focus, they do not constitute the entirety of Atoms' operational plans.