Rivian spinoff Also wants to reinvent the wheel — but first, it has to ship
The Verge · Andrew J. Hawkins ·
Also President Chris Yu opens up about surviving the AI server component crunch, rewriting UL battery standards, and why the company’s modular e-bike is just the first step.
When Rivian quietly spun off its micromobility brand, Also, a lot of observers wondered if the luxury EV maker had bitten off more than it can chew. Chris Yu insists that’s not the case.
Yu, a Stanford aeronautics PhD and former CTO at Specialized, runs the startup as an independent business that counts Rivian as a minority shareholder. Under his lead, Also rolled out the TM-B — a quirky, modular e-bike with a raft of unique features, including a swappable top frame, USB-C chargeable battery, a built-in screen, a series hybrid pedal-by-wire system, and proprietary “Dream Ride” software. There’s also the TM-Q, an electric four-wheeler aimed at commercial deliveries.
But it hasn’t been completely smooth sailing. After dealing with supply chain headaches, confusing regulations, and some communication stumbles, Also is finally shipping its early Launch Edition bikes to customers while also getting ready to roll out the standard and performance versions. Meanwhile, customers have been letting the company have it on Reddit over the delayed deliveries, and the few people who have received their bikes have already experienced some minor software problems.
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