Travis Kalanick’s Atoms may be moving toward robotaxis

Travis Kalanick’s Atoms may be moving into the robotaxi business, according to TechCrunch. The report says the startup is reportedly preparing for hiring and acquisitions that could position it as a major player in autonomous vehicles. That would give Atoms a clearer direction after Kalanick previously described the company’s funding round as tied to “unfinished business.”

Earlier in the summer, Atoms announced a $1.7 billion funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. TechCrunch notes that Kalanick, the Uber founder, remained cautious about spelling out exactly what Atoms planned to build. The new reporting gives readers a sharper signal: robotaxi technology may be one piece of a broader transportation and AI strategy.

TechCrunch reports that Atoms has talked to Uber about how the ride-hailing company could use the startup’s robotaxi technology. Uber has already partnered with a long list of autonomous vehicle companies, making any Atoms connection especially notable. TechCrunch also says Uber invested $100 million in Atoms, a figure it previously confirmed.

Sources cited in the TechCrunch article emphasized that robotaxis do not represent the entirety of Atoms’ plans. Still, the direction fits with Atoms’ acquisition of Pronto, an autonomous mining startup led by former Uber self-driving chief Anthony Levandowski. The key takeaway: Atoms is increasingly tied to autonomous mobility, but its full roadmap remains only partly visible.