Also delays TM-B e-bike deliveries amid chip shortages
Rivian's micromobility spinoff Also has publicly apologised after repeated delays to its high-tech TM-B e-bike, which was originally due to ship to customers in spring 2026 and then summer, but has yet to reach anyone as autumn approaches. Frustrated reservation holders had been venting on Reddit, prompting Also's product manager, Saul Leiken, to post a lengthy apology on the platform explaining the setbacks and acknowledging the company should have communicated better along the way.
Leiken attributed the delays to supply chain shortages of circuit board and chip materials linked to the AI boom, sometimes forcing engineers to source and re-test alternative components. The bike's battery, offered in 538Wh or 808Wh packs for up to 100 miles of range, delivers 240W of power that exceeds current regulatory limits, requiring Also to work with standards bodies on new safety protocols. Its pedal-by-wire DreamRide drivetrain, which has no mechanical link between pedalling and the wheels, also demands high-precision manufacturing that has slowed production ramp-up. Leiken said Also chose to uphold quality standards rather than rush an unfinished product to market, while admitting communication with customers fell short.
In short
- Rivian's Also e-bike, the TM-B, faces further shipping delays
- Cause: chip/PCB shortages, battery power limits, complex drivetrain manufacturing
- Product manager apologised on Reddit for poor communication
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Also’s decision to delay can be defended as a responsible way to protect safety and reliability in a technically complex e-bike, especially while it works through component shortages, precision manufacturing challenges and new safety protocols. Shipping only when the product meets its standards may better serve customers than meeting the original timetable with an inadequately tested bike.
The case against
Reservation holders can reasonably argue that repeated missed delivery windows and limited communication have undermined trust, regardless of the production challenges. Customers who committed to an expensive, highly technical product deserve clear, timely updates and realistic estimates, and the company should be accountable for setting expectations it could not meet.
Explained simply
Also is a company spun off from Rivian, the electric vehicle maker, to develop smaller electric transport such as e-bikes. Its TM-B is designed around electronic systems, including a drivetrain that turns pedal inputs into motor control rather than using a conventional mechanical connection to the wheels.
The bike’s batteries and electronics rely on specialised components, and making its systems work safely together requires careful testing and precise manufacturing. Its power output also sits above current regulatory limits, so the company is working with standards bodies on safety rules. These issues matter because they affect how quickly a new kind of e-bike can be made and brought to customers.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Rivian apologizes for delays in shipping futuristic Also e-bikes”.