Travis Kalanick Is Back: A 2016 Tech Throwback?

Welcome back to GearTech Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click GearTech Mobility! This week feels like a blast from the past, as the return of Travis Kalanick to the robotics space has stirred up memories of the autonomous vehicle hype of 2016. Kalanick, the co-founder and former CEO of Uber who resigned in 2017 amidst a series of controversies, is now building a robotics company called Atoms. And, in a move that truly echoes the past, he’s on the verge of acquiring Pronto, an autonomous vehicle startup focused on industrial and mining sites, founded by his former Uber colleague, Anthony Levandowski. Kalanick has already revealed he is the “largest investor” in Pronto. This resurgence begs the question: are we witnessing a replay of the ambitious, and sometimes chaotic, early days of the AV revolution?

Rivian's R2 Launch: A Fast Track to Market

Just last week, we discussed Rivian and its ambitious plan to launch the upcoming R2 SUV with unprecedented speed. If you missed it, you can find the article here. This week, I’m reporting live from SXSW – the annual festival where tech, music, film, TV, and comedy collide. Rivian, as the headline sponsor of SXSW, used the event to unveil the pricing and specifications of its R2. There’s a lot to unpack, and I’m still conducting interviews (including with CEO RJ Scaringe later today), but here’s a breakdown of what we know so far.

R2 Pricing and Performance

The performance launch edition, the first R2 variant to roll off the production line, will start at $57,990. My initial article delves into the features you get for that price. Senior reporter Sean O’Kane focused on the long-promised $45,000 version and the reasons behind its delayed arrival until late 2027.

Rivian's Experiential Marketing Strategy

My time at SXSW with the Rivian team has revealed a key element of their R2 strategy: a heavy emphasis on experiential marketing targeted directly at their core demographic. SXSW attendees in Austin – a diverse group of tech-savvy and creative professionals from around the globe – closely represent the ideal Rivian customer. But will this approach be effective? The R2 is significantly more accessible than the larger and more expensive R1 truck and SUV. Furthermore, the R2 boasts a new operating system that is demonstrably more powerful and capable than its pricier counterpart.

Next-Gen Operating System: Edge Computing Power

The R2’s operating system is a standout improvement in terms of computing and user interface. For instance, the R2 features a single SoC (system on chip) that delivers 200 TOPS (tera operations per second) of edge computing power. In contrast, the next-generation R1 vehicles utilize four SoCs and rely heavily on cloud-based computing. Rivian’s head of software, Wassym Bensaid, explained that this edge computing capability is crucial for running large language models locally, resulting in lower latency and improved performance.

Halo Wheels: Haptic Feedback and Intuitive Control

Another notable change is the introduction of “halo wheels” on the steering wheel (pictured above). These wheels provide haptic feedback and allow drivers to quickly adjust temperature, fan speed, and speaker volume without taking their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road. Chief designer Jeff Hammoud highlighted that this feature directly addresses customer requests without adding unnecessary buttons. Importantly, the software allows for the addition of further functionality to these halo wheels over time.

Lucid Motors' Robotaxi Concept: A Concept for Now

Lucid Motors attempted to generate buzz at its investor day with a robotaxi concept built on the company’s “midsize” EV platform. Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff confidently stated that the company is “working on a dedicated Lucid Robotaxi” following the debut of the midsize EVs. However, GearTech later clarified that there is currently no active development underway, and the vehicle remains purely a concept. Sources indicate the project is in its very early stages, having begun only in the last two to three months, raising questions about the timeline for potential deployment.

Deals and Funding in the Mobility Space

This week has been particularly active in terms of funding and acquisitions. Let’s take a look at some of the key deals:

Mind Robotics Secures $500 Million Series A

Rivian has spun out yet another startup, Mind Robotics, an industrial robotics lab, and secured a substantial $500 million Series A funding round co-led by Accel and Andreessen Horowitz. This follows a $115 million seed round led by Eclipse in late 2025. Mind Robotics is now valued at approximately $2 billion. Robotics was a central theme in Rivian’s programming at SXSW, including a panel discussion featuring engineer and YouTuber Mark Rober and Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe. I interviewed Scaringe on the sidelines of the event, inquiring about Mind Robotics and the company’s broader strategy. I also asked if he anticipates spinning out any further companies. His response was a long pause, followed by a cautious “Probably not.”

Scaringe's Vision for Industrial Robotics

Scaringe believes that the industry is approaching the future of industrial robotics from the wrong angle. “There has been a surprising emphasis on mimicking human biomechanics, or in some cases even going further, making even more complex mechatronics. I think what’s missed in industrial [settings] and this is one of the things we really see clearly, is the work happens with the hands,” Scaringe told me. “So the hands are very, very important. Everything else, from a robotic system point of view, is to get the hands to the right place. And so the ability for the robots to do really complex motions, like, let’s say, a back flip, that actually just means the robot has a lot of unnecessary complexity in it for the vast majority of tasks and understanding.”

Other Notable Deals

• inDrive acquired Pakistan-based quick-commerce startup Krave Mart in an all-stock deal approved by the Competition Commission of Pakistan. Financial terms were not disclosed.
• Mirai Robotics, an Italy-based autonomous maritime systems developer, raised $4.2 million from Primo Capital, Techshop, and 40Jemz Ventures.
• Surf Air placed an order for 25 of Beta Technologies’ all-electric ALIA aircraft, with options for up to 75 more.

Industry News and Insights

Here’s a roundup of other noteworthy developments:

• Bryan Reimer, an MIT research scientist, explores the potential political divide surrounding automated vehicles in a recent column.
• Archer Aviation responded to a lawsuit with counterclaims against Joby Aviation, alleging fraud related to claims of being an American-made company.
• Group14 has commenced production of silicon battery materials at its BAM-3 factory in South Korea, capable of producing up to 2,000 metric tons annually.
• Hayden AI is suing its co-founder and former CEO over allegations of misconduct and misuse of funds.
• The Federal Aviation Administration approved eight pilot programs for widespread electric aircraft testing, involving companies like Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies, Joby Aviation, and Wisk.
• Harbinger, an EV startup, unveiled its second vehicle: a medium-duty work truck.
• Lucid Motors has deployed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Gravity SUV owners.
• The National Transportation Safety Board released data indicating driver distraction was likely a factor in fatal crashes involving Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving system.
• Nuro is testing its autonomous vehicle technology in Japan.
• Slate Auto appointed Peter Faricy as its new CEO ahead of its production launch.
• Tesla is now a licensed utility in the United Kingdom.
• Wayve is partnering with Uber and Nissan to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo, with a pilot scheduled for late 2026.
• Uber added Hyundai-owned Motional to its robotaxi network in Las Vegas.
• Zoox has begun mapping streets in Dallas and Phoenix in preparation for autonomous vehicle testing.

Zoox and Uber: A Robotaxi Partnership with a Catch

Zoox is also partnering with Uber, making its robotaxis available on the ride-hailing app in Las Vegas later this year. However, this partnership is contingent on Zoox obtaining an exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for its custom-built robotaxis, which lack traditional controls like a steering wheel. The exemption process has begun, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seeking public comment on Zoox’s application.

The Return of the Bolt EV: A Strategic Move?

Finally, the Chevrolet Bolt EV is making a comeback. Senior reporter Tim De Chant suggests that GM’s decision to revive the Bolt is a strategic move, akin to bringing back a popular limited-time offering. He argues that the Bolt is the “McRib of the automotive world.” De Chant also analyzed the economics of GM’s decision to bring back the Bolt.