Introduction and Main Facts
In a pivotal moment for the high-end micromobility sector, Also, the electric vehicle startup spun out of Rivian Automotive, has officially begun shipping its highly anticipated TM-B Launch Edition e-bikes to customers. The announcement, confirmed by the company, marks the end of a series of frustrating delays that have kept early adopters waiting for months.
According to company officials, the first batch of the premium TM-B Launch Edition—which retails at a premium price point of $4,500—has departed from its international manufacturing facility and is currently en route to the company’s primary distribution warehouse in the United States. Also expects to fulfill all outstanding orders for the Launch Edition tier between next week and the end of September.
This logistical milestone represents a crucial test for the young startup. While the commencement of shipping is a positive operational signal, it follows a period of silent delays and logistical bottlenecks that have tested the patience of its initial customer base. As a spin-off of one of America’s most prominent electric vehicle manufacturers, Also carries both the prestige of Rivian’s design ethos and the heavy burden of high consumer expectations.
Chronology: The Evolution of Also
[2022] Rivian Skunkworks Project Initiated by RJ Scaringe
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[Mid-2022 to 2024] Collaborative Design with Jony Ive's LoveFrom
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[March 2025] Official Spin-out from Rivian with $105M from Eclipse
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[October 2025] Public Reveal of the TM-B Modular E-Bike ($4,500)
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[Spring 2026] Original Target Delivery Window (Missed)
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[June 2026] Shipping Window Officially Delayed to July due to Supply Chain Stress
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[Late July/August 2026] First Shipments Depart Factory; Deliveries Scheduled through SeptemberThe Skunkworks Origins (2022–2024)
The concept behind Also did not originate in a conventional venture capital incubator, but rather within the engineering bays of Rivian’s normal operations. In 2022, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe initiated a stealth "skunkworks" project aimed at exploring micromobility solutions. Scaringe’s vision was to develop an electric bike that would seamlessly complement Rivian’s existing fleet of rugged, adventurous electric vehicles, appealing directly to the brand’s outdoor-focused, affluent demographic.
During this incubation phase, Rivian quietly sought elite design expertise. As first reported in 2025, the automaker contracted LoveFrom—the highly exclusive design firm founded by legendary former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive—to collaborate on the early aesthetic and structural framework of the e-bike. This partnership infused the project with a minimalist, high-end industrial design philosophy, setting the stage for a premium product launch.
Spin-out and Independence (2025)
By early 2025, the scale of the e-bike project had outgrown its status as an internal division. In March 2025, Rivian officially spun the project out into an independent corporate entity named Also. The spinoff was backed by a massive $105 million investment round led by Eclipse, a prominent venture capital firm specializing in physical industries and hardware modernization. This funding provided Also with the capital required to build out its own supply chain, hire dedicated engineering talent, and transition from prototype to mass production.
The TM-B Reveal and Subsequent Delays (2025–2026)
In October 2025, Also formally revealed its flagship product to the public: the TM-B, a modular, high-performance e-bike priced at $4,500. At launch, the company established an optimistic delivery timeline, targeting "Spring 2026" for the first customer handovers.
However, as Spring 2026 arrived, the startup ran headfirst into the notorious complexities of hardware manufacturing. In June 2026, acknowledging that it would miss its initial window, the company updated its support pages to push the delivery target to July, citing systemic supply chain disruptions.
Supporting Data: Capitalization and the Market Segment
The TM-B occupies a rarefied space in the micromobility market. At $4,500, it is priced significantly higher than mainstream consumer e-bikes, which typically range between $1,500 and $2,500. This premium pricing structure places Also in direct competition with specialized luxury and performance e-bike brands such as Specialized, Trek, and Stromer.
Financial and Operational Profile
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Spin-off Funding | $105 Million (Led by Eclipse, March 2025) |
| Flagship Product | TM-B Launch Edition |
| Retail Price | $4,500 USD |
| Manufacturing Hub | International (Undisclosed location) |
| U.S. Logistics Base | Domestic Warehouse Hub |
| Delivery Fulfillment Window | Late July to September 2026 |
To justify this premium price point, the TM-B features a highly modular design, allowing users to swap utility racks, passenger seats, and cargo accessories.
Furthermore, Also’s business model is bifurcated. While consumer e-bikes like the TM-B serve as the brand’s public-facing flagship, the startup has secured substantial commercial partnerships to stabilize its long-term revenue. These include:
- Amazon Commercial Fleet: An agreement to manufacture and deliver thousands of specialized, four-wheeled, pedal-assist cargo vehicles designed for dense urban delivery routes.
- DoorDash Partnership: A collaborative initiative to develop and test autonomous last-mile delivery vehicles, leveraging Also’s proprietary modular chassis.
Official Responses and Supply Chain Realities
The delays that hobbled Also’s initial launch reflect broader structural vulnerabilities in the global hardware and electronics markets. In a public statement addressing the postponement from Spring to Summer, Also pointed to an industry-wide scramble for critical materials:
"The primary factor driving our updated summer timeline is current stress on global supply chains. A rapid, industry-wide spike in demand for raw materials and electronic components has impacted key parts required for the TM-B. This has temporarily delayed our planned manufacturing ramp-up and pushed our first delivery dates past our original spring window."
The company added that its engineering and production divisions were "working around the clock to minimize these constraints without cutting a single corner on safety or quality."
When pressed for specifics regarding which exact components—such as semiconductor chips, battery cells, or specialized hydraulic components—caused the bottleneck, Also declined to comment further, citing proprietary supply chain relationships.
Customer Backlash and Communication Failures
Despite the company’s internal explanations, the lack of direct, proactive communication created a trust deficit among its earliest supporters. On community forums, particularly the r/ALSOmicromobility subreddit, consumers expressed growing frustration as the final days of July approached without concrete shipping notifications.
One customer voiced a common sentiment on the forum:
"I’m really frustrated by the lack of communication and the actual miscommunication/lies from Also regarding shipment timelines. Why do they keep making these promises about shipping timelines just to blow right past them without any communication or actual updates? It really makes no sense."
The mounting delay proved to be a breaking point for some reservation holders, with several community members confirming they had canceled their $4,500 orders entirely. The friction highlights a classic hardware startup challenge: transitioning from high-concept design and successful venture backing to the gritty, customer-facing realities of post-sales support and order fulfillment.
Implications for the Micromobility and EV Landscapes
The launch of the TM-B carries significant implications for both Also and the broader EV ecosystem.
1. The Operational Test for Also
For Also, the next two months are critical. Transitioning from a pre-production startup to an active OEM requires a massive operational shift. The company must prove it can handle the logistics of shipping heavy, high-value battery-powered products across the United States, manage the inevitable transit damage claims, and stand up a responsive customer service apparatus. If the September delivery window slips further, the brand risks permanent damage to its reputation before its commercial B2B operations even begin.
2. Validation of the Rivian Lifestyle Ecosystem
From a strategic standpoint, Also represents a test case for whether premium EV brands can successfully extend their design language and lifestyle ecosystem into micromobility. Automakers have long struggled to build viable two-wheeled divisions; however, Rivian’s brand identity is uniquely tied to outdoor adventure, making a premium e-bike a natural brand extension. If Also succeeds, it could provide a blueprint for other EV makers looking to capture the "last-mile" adventure market.
3. The B2B Cushion
Perhaps the most critical aspect of Also’s survival is its diversified portfolio. Unlike consumer-only e-bike startups that live and die by retail sales, Also’s capital-intensive operations are heavily backed by its commercial partnerships with Amazon and DoorDash. These enterprise relationships provide a financial buffer, allowing the company to absorb retail manufacturing delays that would otherwise prove fatal to less-diversified startups.
As the first TM-B e-bikes land in the hands of consumers next week, the industry will closely watch to see if the product’s performance and design justify the $4,500 price tag and the long wait. For Also, the ride is finally beginning.
