Kalanick's Atoms Eyes Robotaxi Push With Uber Talks — SkimNews
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- Atoms announced a $1.7 billion funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz earlier this summer, though Kalanick stayed vague about the company's direction
- Atoms is preparing a hiring spree and acquisitions aimed at making it a major autonomous vehicle player, per the Financial Times
- Atoms has held talks with Uber about how the ride-hailing giant could use its robotaxi technology; Uber has already invested $100 million in the startup
- Uber already partners with a long list of autonomous vehicle companies, positioning it as a natural customer for Atoms' technology
- Atoms previously acquired Pronto, an autonomous mining startup led by Anthony Levandowski, Uber's former self-driving chief
- Levandowski was convicted of stealing trade secrets and sentenced to 18 months in prison, later pardoned by President Donald Trump
- Sources emphasized robotaxis don't represent the entirety of Atoms' plans, though Kalanick previously described the round as "unfinished business"
Why it matters: Atoms' $100 million Uber investment plus active robotaxi talks give Kalanick's startup a built-in distribution channel through the ride-hailing giant's existing AV partnerships — a leverage point most autonomous vehicle startups have to build from scratch, and one that directly ties Kalanick's second act back to the company he co-founded.
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