The discussions do not represent a confirmed commercial agreement. Atoms has not publicly announced a robotaxi launch or disclosed a deployment timeline, and the FT reports that autonomous passenger vehicles are only one part of a much broader industrial AI strategy.
The move would bring Kalanick back into autonomous ride-hailing nearly a decade after his departure from Uber. Uber itself is already financially connected to the project: the company invested $100 million in Atoms as part of the startup’s $1.7 billion funding round announced in July, which was led by Andreessen Horowitz.
Atoms is being built around automation of physical industries rather than humanoid robots. Kalanick has described the company as developing a “wheelbase for robots”, with operations spanning food production, mining and transportation.
That strategy already includes Pronto, the autonomous mining technology company founded by former Uber self-driving executive Anthony Levandowski. Atoms acquired Pronto earlier this year, bringing autonomous vehicle technology for industrial sites into the group.
The FT also reports that Atoms is preparing a significant hiring push and could pursue further acquisitions as it expands its autonomous systems business.
For now, the robotaxi plans remain reported rather than formally announced by Atoms. No vehicle platform, launch market or commercial deployment date has been disclosed.
