Uber Technologies is in preliminary talks with founder Travis Kalanick to help fund his acquisition of the U.S. operations of Chinese autonomous vehicle company Pony AI, according to a New York Times report. The potential deal would see Kalanick running Pony AI’s American unit while continuing to lead his ghost kitchen company CloudKitchens, marking a significant return to the mobility sector for Uber’s controversial co-founder.
What you should know: The discussions remain in early stages with no financial details disclosed about the potential transaction.
- Kalanick would maintain dual leadership roles, overseeing both Pony AI’s U.S. arm and his current venture CloudKitchens if the deal materializes.
- Shares of both Uber and Pony AI jumped in Thursday trading following the news report.
Why this matters: The deal would represent a strategic re-entry into autonomous driving for Kalanick, who sold Uber’s self-driving unit to Aurora in 2020 for $4 billion after years of regulatory challenges and technical setbacks.
- Pony AI, which went public on the Nasdaq in November 2024, operates robotaxi services in China and has been testing autonomous vehicles in several U.S. cities.
- The acquisition would give Kalanick access to proven self-driving technology while potentially providing Uber with closer ties to a key player in the autonomous vehicle space.
The big picture: This potential partnership highlights the ongoing consolidation in the autonomous vehicle industry as companies seek to combine resources and expertise to achieve commercial viability.
- Chinese AV companies face increasing scrutiny over data security and potential restrictions on their U.S. operations, making partnerships with American entities increasingly valuable.
- For Uber, supporting Kalanick’s bid could provide strategic benefits without the direct regulatory complications of owning Chinese technology assets.
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