Tech • 5h ago
TechCrunch Mobility: Travis Kalanick’s return proves it really is 2016 again
**The Return of Travis Kalanick: Is it 2016 All Over Again?**
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In a surprising turn of events, Travis Kalanick, the co-founder and former CEO of Uber, is back in the spotlight. Kalanick has announced the launch of a new robotics company called Atoms, and in a bold move, he's on the verge of acquiring Pronto, an autonomous vehicle startup founded by his former Uber colleague, Anthony Levandowski. This development has sent shockwaves in the tech community, reminiscent of the hype surrounding autonomous vehicles (AVs) in 2016.
For those who may not recall, 2016 was a pivotal year for AVs, marked by Uber's acquisition of Otto, a startup founded by Levandowski. However, the deal went sour, and Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, sued Uber for trade secret theft. It seems that history is repeating itself, with Kalanick's latest announcement sparking concerns about the future of autonomous transportation.
In other news, Rivian, a pioneering electric vehicle (EV) maker, is making waves with its upcoming R2 SUV. The company has announced pricing and specs for the vehicle, which is set to be one of the fastest launches in history. I'll be sharing more insights on this development in the coming days.
As I write this, I'm attending SXSW in Austin, where Rivian is the headline sponsor. I'll be interviewing the CEO, RJ Scaringe, later today, so stay tuned for more updates.
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