Atoms, the startup founded by former Uber chief Travis Kalanick, is preparing hiring and acquisition plans that could make autonomous vehicles a major part of its business, according to a Financial Times report summarized by TechCrunch. The company has also discussed how Uber might use its robotaxi technology.
Uber has invested $100 million in Atoms and already works with multiple autonomous-driving providers, so any arrangement would enter a broad partner network rather than restore a single in-house program. The report does not say that a commercial deal has been signed.
Atoms raised $1.7 billion this summer in a round led by Andreessen Horowitz without fully explaining its product roadmap. Its acquisition of Pronto, an autonomous-mining company led by former Uber self-driving executive Anthony Levandowski, gives it relevant software and operating experience in controlled industrial environments.
Sources emphasized that robotaxis do not represent the whole plan, leaving the scope and launch timing uncertain. Building a public passenger service also requires vehicles, safety validation, permits and local operations in addition to AI software. For now, the concrete development is a reported expansion effort and talks with Uber, not the launch of a robotaxi fleet.