Atoms, the startup founded by Travis Kalanick, is reportedly expanding its focus toward the autonomous vehicle sector. Following a recent $1.7 billion funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, the company is planning a significant increase in hiring and potential acquisitions to strengthen its position in the industry.
The company has engaged in discussions with Uber regarding the potential integration of its robotaxi technology into the ride-hailing platform. Uber has already committed $100 million to Atoms, a financial stake that has been confirmed by industry reports.
The strategic shift aligns with the company's acquisition of Pronto, a startup specializing in autonomous mining technology. Pronto is led by Anthony Levandowski, who previously served as the head of self-driving operations at Uber.