Andrew J. Hawkins

Uber’s founder and ousted CEO Travis Kalanick, last seen operating a ghost kitchen startup, is forming a new company called Atoms, TechCrunch reports, that will include food delivery, mining, and transportation. He’s also, according to The Information, considering acquiring Anthony Levandowski’s (yes, that guy) autonomous mining company and using it as a launchpad for a new self-driving car company — with backing from his former company. Dude also gave a live interview on TPBN where he described the mining business as — in extreme Kalanick style — “my jam.”

Uber out here collecting robotaxi companies like they’re Pokémon! The majority Hyundai-owned Motional is operating a fleet of autonomous Ioniq 5s in Las Vegas. The arrangement is similar to Uber’s other AV partners: riders who indicate they’re interested in robotaxis may get matched with one of Motional’s vehicles.

Cosmos and Earth. Paging Carl Sagan! The EV company announced the names at its Investor Day in New York City today. Both are expected to be mid-sized crossover SUVs, with an estimated starting price of $50,000. That makes the Lucid Earth and Cosmos incredibly important to the company’s long-term future — sort of similar to the Rivian R2. If Lucid wants to break into the mainstream, it needs to sell more affordable vehicles.

The ridehail service is launching a new premium offering for anyone who thinks Uber Black is too pedestrian. Uber Elite will be invite-only, and feature commercially licensed professional chauffeurs driving new-model luxury vehicles – less than three years old – such as the Cadillac Escalade, Lucid Air, and Lincoln Navigator.