As self-driving taxi services like Waymo gain traction, Uber is ramping up efforts to remain competitive — and those efforts may involve a surprising reunion.
Uber is in early talks to help fund its former CEO Travis Kalanick’s bid to acquire the U.S. division of autonomous vehicle company Pony.ai, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Kalanick, who was ousted from Uber in a dramatic boardroom shake-up eight years ago, would take over operations at Pony if the deal moves forward, those sources said. While Uber may contribute financially, it remains unclear whether the company would take an equity stake or any formal role in Pony.
Founded in Silicon Valley in 2016, Pony.ai is now based primarily in China, though it has permits to operate robotaxis and trucks in both the U.S. and China. The company went public last year in the U.S., raising $260 million, and currently carries a market valuation of about $4.5 billion.
“Uber has a platform strategy, and we intend to work with multiple players in the U.S. and around the world who can safely bring autonomous technology to the world,” a spokesperson for Uber said, declining to comment further on the talks.
Devon Spurgeon, a spokesperson for Mr. Kalanick, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pony.ai also declined to comment.
Should the deal go through, Kalanick, 48, would continue running CloudKitchens — the virtual restaurant company he launched after leaving Uber — while returning to the self-driving space. It would also mark an unexpected collaboration with Dara Khosrowshahi, who succeeded Kalanick as Uber CEO in 2017.
The discussions reflect rising pressure on Uber as Waymo, the self-driving unit spun out of Google, and others like Tesla expand robotaxi services. Tesla recently launched a limited robotaxi pilot in Austin, Texas. In cities such as San Francisco, autonomous vehicles have become a common sight and are increasingly popular with riders.
While at Uber, Kalanick aggressively pushed into self-driving, acquiring Otto, a startup led by former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski. That move prompted a lawsuit from Google over alleged theft of trade secrets and led to a court battle to block Uber from using the disputed technology.
Khosrowshahi has since pivoted to a more collaborative strategy. Under his leadership, Uber has inked roughly 18 partnerships with autonomous vehicle companies like Wayve, May Mobility, and WeRide to run pilot programs across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
In interviews, Khosrowshahi has emphasized that the company’s goal is to place “as many cars on Uber’s network as possible.” He’s acknowledged that autonomous vehicles are progressing but maintains that ride-hailing services will rely on both human and robot drivers for years to come.
Currently, Uber partners with Waymo in several markets. In Phoenix, customers can book a Waymo ride through the Uber app, and in Austin, Waymo robotaxis operate with Uber branding. Still, Waymo continues to expand independently — including in San Francisco, where riders must use the Waymo app directly.
Uber is also monitoring Tesla closely. Elon Musk has promised a broader launch of Tesla’s autonomous taxis but has declined to partner with Uber.
According to two individuals familiar with his thinking, Kalanick has become increasingly interested in robotics over the past year. At CloudKitchens, he’s introduced robotic systems to prepare food and experimented with automated kitchens that build custom bowls for delivery. He’s also explored street-roving delivery robots.
Pony.ai has been navigating political and regulatory hurdles as well. In 2019, President Trump’s administration issued an executive order to reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese technology in sensitive industries, including autonomous vehicles. Earlier this year, the Commerce Department implemented a rule banning AV software operated or maintained by Chinese entities from use in the U.S., with a March 2026 compliance deadline.
In response, Pony prepared its U.S. operations for sale or spin-off. Two people familiar with the company said engineers “forked” the source code in 2022, and development for U.S.-based vehicles has been conducted entirely within the U.S. for several years.
Kalanick is working with additional investors to finance the potential acquisition of Pony.ai’s U.S. division.
Known for his combative style, Kalanick’s early tenure at Uber was defined by regulatory battles and a fierce drive to disrupt the traditional taxi industry — tactics that helped Uber rise to dominance.
Since his forced resignation in 2017, Kalanick has largely kept out of the spotlight, focusing on CloudKitchens and quietly backing other tech ventures. In the past year, however, he’s made a handful of public appearances, including a stop at the “All-In” podcast’s conference in Los Angeles and events surrounding President Trump’s inauguration.
Behind the scenes, Kalanick and Khosrowshahi have reportedly reconnected over the past year. According to two sources, the two have been discussing topics like robotics, food delivery, Uber Eats, and the growing self-driving landscape. Those conversations, combined with time and shifting market dynamics, have contributed to what observers describe as a thaw in their formerly tense relationship.
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