TechCrunch Mobility: Uber bets on its former CEO Kirsten Korosec
A roundup of transportation tech news featuring Tesla's delayed Cybercab production goals and Travis Kalanick's massive $1.7 billion funding round backed by Uber.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Tesla backs off 2026 volume production targets for Cybercab, Semi, and Megapack, while paid robotaxi miles dropped 36% in Q2.
- Ex-Uber CEO Travis Kalanick secures $1.7 billion in funding for Atoms, with Uber participating with a $100 million investment.
- Sila raises $300 million to expand its Washington state battery materials factory for over 100,000 EVs.
- Aurora launches its second-generation driverless trucks on the Dallas-to-Houston route.
Transportation and technology news kicked off with Tesla’s shareholder letter and Elon Musk’s conference call remarks, which delivered some surprising disclosures for investors. Tesla has backed off its previous promises to reach volume production for the Cybercab, Tesla Semi, and Megapack 3 in 2026. Although the company has touted expansions of its Robotaxi service into new cities in Florida and Texas, quarter-over-quarter data reveals a drop in paid robotaxi miles.
Senior reporter Sean O’Kane analyzed a chart in Tesla’s shareholder letter that initially appeared to show steady growth in paid robotaxi rides between August 2025 and June 2026. However, the figures are cumulative; when broken down by quarter, Tesla’s Model Y fleet carrying paying passengers dropped from roughly 1.1 million miles in the first quarter to about 700,000 miles in the second quarter, marking a 36% decline. Musk also disclosed that Tesla must collect driving data using Cybercabs retrofitted with steering wheels and pedals to calibrate to the chassis. Financially, Tesla doubled its CapEx, returned to negative free cash flow territory, and saw its net income fall 5% year over year.
Meanwhile, Travis Kalanick re-emerged in the robotics and mobility sector with Atoms—a rebranded holding company—alongside a deal to acquire Anthony Levandowski’s industrial automation startup, Pronto. The Uber co-founder and former CEO now commands $1.7 billion in capital, led by venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz with participation from Bain Capital, Fifth Wall, and Uber. According to The Information, Uber invested $100 million into Atoms, a detail confirmed by subsequent reporting. This follows a tumultuous history that includes Kalanick's resignation nearly a decade ago and the high-profile Waymo lawsuit stemming from Uber's acquisition of Otto in 2016.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Uber's decision to invest in a venture led by Travis Kalanick and associated with Anthony Levandowski highlights how strategic and technological imperatives in industrial AI and physical automation can ultimately bridge past corporate conflicts and legal battles, positioning the ride-hailing giant to benefit from new applications in mining and transport.
In other industry updates, Swedish electric and autonomous trucking company Einride agreed to acquire EV charging startup Flipturn in an all-stock deal valued at $38 million. IBM agreed to buy HRL Laboratories, a quantum computing research lab co-owned by Boeing and General Motors. Battery materials startup Sila raised $300 million led by Atreides Management and Sutter Hill Ventures to expand its Washington state facility. Aurora launched its second-generation driverless trucks built for a million-mile service life on its Dallas-to-Houston route, while Ford is partnering with Apple to integrate Apple Maps navigation using MapKit tools for its next-gen EVs.
Source: TechCrunch
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