Rivian Spinoff Also Ships First E-Bikes After Supply Delays

A new electric bike company born from automotive innovator Rivian is about to put its first products in customers' hands after weathering the storm of global supply challenges.

Also, which started as an experimental project inside Rivian in 2022, announced Friday that its Launch Edition e-bikes are shipping from the manufacturer to its U.S. warehouse. The company expects all customers who ordered the $4,500 TM-B bikes to receive them between next week and September.

The journey to this milestone wasn't smooth. Also originally planned spring 2026 deliveries but pushed the timeline to July, then again to summer as global demand for raw materials and electronic components created unexpected bottlenecks.

The company refused to cut corners despite the pressure. "Our engineering and production teams are working around the clock to minimize these constraints without cutting a single corner on safety or quality," Also told customers in June.

The startup's origins show how good ideas can grow beyond their original home. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe wanted to create an e-bike that matched his company's electric vehicles for outdoor enthusiasts, so he launched an internal skunkworks project that eventually became something bigger.

In March 2025, Rivian spun out Also as an independent company with $105 million in backing from Eclipse. The startup even brought in legendary designer Jony Ive's firm LoveFrom to help shape early designs.

The Ripple Effect

Also's vision extends far beyond recreational e-bikes. The company describes itself as a "vehicle" maker with plans for four-wheel pedal-assist cargo vehicles for Amazon and autonomous delivery vehicles for DoorDash.

These partnerships could reshape how packages reach doorsteps in cities across America. Quiet, emission-free micro-vehicles might soon replace noisy delivery vans in neighborhoods, reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions while creating new transportation solutions.

The company now faces a different challenge: building trust through excellent customer service. Some buyers expressed frustration on social media about communication gaps during the delays, a common growing pain for hardware startups navigating the complex world of physical product delivery.

Next week marks the moment when Also transforms from a company with ambitious plans into one putting real products into real hands.