Travis Kalanick Gears Up for Self-Driving Car Comeback
Former Uber CEO is building a new autonomous vehicle company with Uber's backing and eyeing an acquisition of Pronto.ai.
Travis Kalanick isn't done with self-driving cars. The former Uber CEO and cofounder is preparing to launch a brand-new autonomous vehicle company — and his old company is reportedly backing the effort.
According to The Information, Kalanick has been in discussions to acquire Pronto.ai, the self-driving startup founded by Anthony Levandowski. Yes, that Anthony Levandowski — the engineer at the center of the infamous Uber-Waymo trade secrets lawsuit.
Details on the new venture's exact scope and valuation remain thin, but the Uber backing signals serious capital behind the play. It's a bold move for Kalanick, who was pushed out of Uber's top job years ago amid a cascade of scandals.
The autonomous driving space is heating up again, and Kalanick clearly wants back in. Whether this attempt sticks remains to be seen.