Travis Kalanick’s Atoms might be getting into the robotaxi business

According to a Financial Times report, Atoms, the startup founded by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, is gearing up to become a major player in the autonomous vehicle sector. The company, which recently closed a $1.7 billion funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, is planning a hiring spree and strategic acquisitions to accelerate its entry into the robotaxi business. Atoms has reportedly been in discussions with Uber about integrating its robotaxi technology into Uber's ride-hailing network, a partnership that aligns with Uber's history of collaborating with autonomous vehicle companies. Uber is also an investor in Atoms, having previously contributed $100 million. This robotaxi focus is seen as consistent with Kalanick's earlier description of the funding round as addressing "unfinished business." The direction also complements Atoms' earlier acquisition of Pronto, an autonomous mining startup led by Anthony Levandowski, Uber's former self-driving chief.

(Source：TechCrunch)