Travis Kalanick's Atoms eyes robotaxi market after $1.7B raise
Original: Travis Kalanick’s Atoms might be getting into the robotaxi business
Why This Matters
Atoms' entry into robotaxis signals increasing consolidation and competition in the autonomous vehicle industry.
Travis Kalanick's startup Atoms, which raised $1.7B led by Andreessen Horowitz, is reportedly preparing a hiring spree and acquisitions to enter the autonomous vehicle industry. Uber, which invested $100M in Atoms, has discussed using its robotaxi technology.
According to a Financial Times report, Atoms — the startup founded by Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick — is preparing for a major hiring push and potential acquisitions aimed at making it a significant player in the autonomous vehicle sector. Earlier this summer, Atoms closed a $1.7 billion funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, though Kalanick remained vague about the company's specific direction at the time, describing the round as 'unfinished business.' The FT report now reveals that Atoms has held discussions with Uber about how the ride-hailing giant could leverage Atoms' robotaxi technology. Uber, which has already partnered with multiple AV companies, has invested $100 million in Atoms — a figure previously confirmed by TechCrunch. Sources noted that robotaxis are not the entirety of Atoms' plans. The company has also acquired Pronto, an autonomous mining startup led by Anthony Levandowski, Uber's former self-driving chief, who was convicted of trade secret theft but later pardoned by President Donald Trump.