Travis Kalanick Returns to the Robotaxi Race

Travis Kalanick, the former CEO of Uber, is reportedly making a comeback in the ride-hailing market through his new startup, Atoms. Founded in March 2026, Atoms raised $1.7 billion in funding by June, with Uber being one of its investors, contributing $100 million. The Financial Times has reported that Atoms is preparing for a hiring spree and several acquisitions as part of its strategy to become a major player in the autonomous driving sector. Kalanick has expressed that he has 'unfinished business' in the robotaxi space, a vision he had during his time at Uber. Atoms is not solely focused on robotaxis; it also operates in various sectors, including food delivery through its CloudKitchens division. The startup has already acquired Pronto, an autonomous mining company led by Anthony Levandowski, who previously worked at Uber. This move indicates Kalanick's intent to leverage his past experiences and connections in the autonomous vehicle industry.