Key takeaways
- Also begins shipping its $4,500 TM-B e-bike in August after delaying from Spring 2026 due to global supply chain disruptions affecting raw materials and electronic components.
- Rivian spun out Also in March 2025 with $105 million from Eclipse; the company also plans four-wheeled cargo vehicles for Amazon and autonomous delivery systems for DoorDash.
- Customer frustration on social media about repeated delays and poor communication has led some to cancel pre-orders before the first units arrive.
After months of postponed deadlines, Also—the e-bike company spun out from Rivian—will begin shipping its first production units to customers next week. The startup confirmed to TechCrunch on Friday that its Launch Edition TM-B e-bike, priced at $4,500, has started its journey from manufacturer facilities to a U.S. warehouse, with deliveries expected to conclude by September.
The milestone marks the end of a lengthy development cycle that began when Rivian founder RJ Scaringe conceived of the project in 2022 as a way to expand the company’s electric vehicle portfolio into the personal mobility space. The first prototype was unveiled in October 2024 after LoveFrom, the design studio founded by Jony Ive, contributed to early design iterations. Also was officially separated from Rivian in March 2025, backed by $105 million in funding from Eclipse.
From Spring to Summer: A Shifting Timeline
The path to these first deliveries has been marked by repeated date changes. When Also introduced the TM-B last fall, the company targeted a spring 2026 launch window. As manufacturing approached, those plans compressed and shifted: a summer 2025 delivery date emerged, then fell away entirely as the company navigated persistent supply chain disruptions.
What Delayed the Launch
In a statement posted to its support page in June, Also attributed the slip to broad stress across global manufacturing networks. “A rapid, industry-wide spike in demand for raw materials and electronic components has impacted key parts required for the TM-B,” the company wrote. “This has temporarily delayed our planned manufacturing ramp-up and pushed our first delivery dates past our original spring window.” The statement emphasized that Also’s teams were working continuously to resolve constraints while maintaining standards for safety and product quality. Notably, the company did not disclose which specific components created bottlenecks or what percentage of the production pipeline was affected.
Customer Communication Lapses
The repeated revisions have strained customer patience. On the final day of July, multiple reservation holders took to the r/ALSOmicromobility subreddit to air grievances about the communication breakdowns. One customer wrote: “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? Real, actual updates would go a long way.” Others expressed resignation, with at least one person stating they had canceled their pre-order rather than wait any longer.
A Vehicle Company With Ambitions Beyond the Bike
While the TM-B commands attention, Also has framed itself as far more than an e-bike manufacturer. The company’s leadership has deliberately positioned it as a “vehicle” company with a broader mandate in the micromobility and last-mile logistics sectors.
Amazon Partnership and Cargo Vehicles
Also is developing a four-wheeled pedal-assist cargo vehicle for use by Amazon, designed to support delivery and logistics operations in urban environments. These vehicles represent the company’s thinking about how human-powered and electric-powered mobility can be combined for practical commercial applications.
Autonomous Delivery With DoorDash
In parallel, Also is collaborating with DoorDash to build an autonomous delivery vehicle. This project signals the company’s interest in the robotics and automation space, extending beyond traditional vehicle design into fully autonomous systems for food and package delivery.
The Real Test: Execution and Support
Moving from pre-orders to fulfillment introduces operational complexities that go beyond supply chain logistics. The customer complaints surfacing on social media hint at the challenges Also will face in managing expectations and responding to technical issues as thousands of units reach owners for the first time.
Customer service infrastructure—including warranty support, technical documentation, software updates, and repair networks—typically emerges as a critical pressure point for hardware companies transitioning from development to scale. Also’s previous silence during the supply chain delays may have eroded goodwill it will need as early adopters begin using the bikes and inevitably encountering real-world issues.
What Also Needs to Prove
The startup must navigate several concurrent challenges. Delivering all preorders by September while maintaining quality standards and managing customer expectations represents the near-term priority. Beyond that, the company faces the longer task of establishing whether there is genuine consumer demand for premium e-bikes at the $4,500 price point—a category that sits at the upper end of the consumer e-bike market.
The success of the TM-B will also influence investor confidence in Also’s bigger ambitions around cargo vehicles and autonomous delivery systems. If the company struggles with e-bike fulfillment and customer satisfaction, stakeholders may question whether Also can credibly execute on more complex vehicle projects.
Also’s path forward depends not just on shipping this August and September, but on converting that shipment milestone into sustained positive customer experiences—something the company has yet to demonstrate convincingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Also delay the TM-B e-bike from its original Spring 2026 target date?
Global supply chain stress and a rapid industry-wide spike in demand for raw materials and electronic components impacted key parts required for the TM-B. Also did not disclose which specific components caused the delays.
How much did the TM-B e-bike cost and when will it be delivered?
The Launch Edition TM-B e-bike retails for $4,500. The company expects to deliver all Launch Edition bikes between August 2025 and September 2025.
What other projects is Also working on beyond the e-bike?
Also is developing a four-wheeled pedal-assist cargo vehicle for Amazon and collaborating with DoorDash to build an autonomous delivery vehicle. The company describes itself as a vehicle company with broader ambitions in micromobility and last-mile logistics.
