Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is returning to the robotaxi race
Travis Kalanick, the disgraced founder of Uber Technologies Co. Ltd., is reportedly trying to become a key figure in the ride-hailing market again by developing robotaxi technology at his new startup Atoms.
A report in the Financial Times today provided more insight into the ambitions of Atoms, an industrial automation and robotics startup founded by Kalanick in March that went on to raise $1.7 billion in funding in June. Despite the massive size of that round, the startup has been guarded over what it intends to do with it.
But the Financial Times revealed that Atoms is preparing to go on a hiring spree and make several acquisitions as part of a bid to become a major player in the autonomous driving world, fulfilling an ambition of Kalanick’s that began when he was still involved with Uber. The report adds that Uber was one of the backers involved in that round, investing $100 million, and has already held talks with Atoms over using its robotaxi technology with its ride-hailing network.
If some kind of partnership does emerge, it would be the first time Kalanick has worked with his former company since resigning from its board of directors in 2019. He was forced out of his role as Uber’s chief executive officer nine years ago.
