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

In Brief

Earlier this summer, Travis Kalanick’s Atoms announced a $1.7 cardinal backing circular led by Andreessen Horowitz. But adjacent aft raising that mega round, the Uber laminitis remained a spot cagey astir what helium was really aiming to do.

Now a communicative successful the Financial Times offers much details astir Atoms’ goals. The startup is reportedly preparing for a hiring spree, arsenic good arsenic acquisitions, that could marque it a large subordinate successful the autonomous conveyance industry.

In fact, the FT said Atoms has talked to Uber astir however the ride-hailing institution could usage the startup’s robotaxi technology. (Uber has already partnered with a agelong database of autonomous conveyance companies.) The study besides noted that Uber has invested $100 cardinal successful Atoms — a fig antecedently confirmed by TechCrunch.

While sources emphasized that robotaxis don’t correspond the entirety of Atoms’ plans, this absorption seems accordant with Kalanick’s statement of the circular arsenic “unfinished business.”

It besides fits with Atoms’ acquisition of Pronto, an autonomous mining startup led by Uber’s erstwhile self-driving main Anthony Levandowski. (Levandowski was convicted of stealing commercialized secrets and sentenced to 18 months successful prison, but was past pardoned by President Donald Trump.)

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