Key facts
- Travis Kalanick's Atoms has raised $1.7 billion in capital.
- Uber invested $100 million into Atoms six months ago.
- Atoms will focus on industrial AI and physical automation for mining and transport.
- Tesla reported a 36% drop in paid robotaxi miles quarter-over-quarter.
- Tesla's net income fell 5% year over year in Q2.
- Aurora launched its second-generation driverless trucks.
Travis Kalanick, the former CEO of Uber, has re-entered the robotics and mobility scene with his rebranded holding company, Atoms, securing $1.7 billion in capital. The funding round was led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Bain Capital, Fifth Wall, and notably, Uber itself, which invested $100 million six months ago.
Atoms plans to focus on industrial AI and physical automation, particularly in the mining and transport sectors. A company email from Anthony Levandowski, founder of Pronto (an industrial automation startup acquired by Atoms), indicated that Pronto will be a core strategic priority, aiming to scale OEM-agnostic autonomy.
This move by Kalanick and Uber's investment comes despite a history of scandals and lawsuits during Kalanick's tenure at Uber, including the acquisition of Levandowski's self-driving truck startup Otto and the subsequent trade secret theft lawsuit filed by Waymo.
In other mobility news, Tesla's recent earnings report revealed a significant drop in paid robotaxi miles, falling approximately 36% quarter-over-quarter. CEO Elon Musk also disclosed that Tesla needs to accumulate specific driving data for its Cybercab, requiring vehicles to be retrofitted with steering wheels and pedals for calibration, a departure from previous claims about leveraging its existing fleet data.
Tesla's Q2 financial results showed increased capital expenditure, a return to negative free cash flow, and a 5% year-over-year decrease in net income.
Other developments in the sector include Einride's acquisition of EV charging startup Flipturn for $38 million, IBM's agreement to buy quantum computing research lab HRL Laboratories, and battery materials startup Sila raising $300 million. Aurora launched its second-generation driverless trucks, and Ford announced plans to integrate Apple Maps into its upcoming EVs. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicated that Waymo's driverless cars have lower crash rates than human drivers.