Madness or a whole new league? Even before a single product or prototype had hit the market, Rivian’s spin-off ALSO. managed to reach a $1 billion valuation in a typical Silicon Valley-style funding round. Backed by around $300 million in venture capital, this offshoot of the adventure EV brand Rivian is aiming to flip the e-bike market on its head from mid-2026. Designed as an S-pedelec and classified as a Class 3 e-bike in the US, the ALSO. TM-B makes one thing instantly clear: this is not your average e-bike. The design and concept? Disruptive, versatile, bold. It can be adapted or converted in no time at all. Then there’s the hefty motor unit with a removable battery that doubles as a mobile power bank. You don’t just ride the TM-B to the party. You are the party.
But it’s not just the looks that feel refreshingly different. ALSO. is breaking new ground on several fronts: think experience-led marketing instead of banging on about components, a LEGO-like design with a saddle dome, and USB-C charging. That takes guts – respect. In fact, specs that would normally steal the headlines, like 180 Nm of torque or the upside-down fork, almost fade into the background. Because here, it’s the concept that takes centre stage, not the tech. That’s what transcendent mobility means. And it’s the kind of brave thinking we haven’t seen since VanMoof and Cake. With all the risks that come with it – but more on that later. And if the starting price really does land at around $4,000 as announced, all the better.
ALSO. Leads the Way: Experience over Ingredients
While the traditional bike industry continues to fight over motor specs and highlight third-party components rather than focusing on their own brand or user experience, ALSO. takes a different path. Instead of positioning motor brands, drivetrains or suspension forks as the unique selling points, the emphasis is on what the bike enables you to do. Many bike brands have become interchangeable, reducing themselves to a list of specs. ALSO. is showing there’s another way. Here, the components are not the hero.
Whether this radical concept actually works in daily life – and whether the TM-B delivers on its promises – will only become clear in our first real-world test. One thing’s for sure: we’ll be there from the start. We believe ALSO. has what it takes to redefine mobility and speak to an audience that’s never shown the slightest interest in bikes before. What’s also clear: Rivian, or rather ALSO., have pulled together a seriously cool concept and some razor-sharp marketing. But the toughest challenge still lies ahead. Because proprietary, in-house components can be a blessing and a curse, as we saw with VanMoof and others. They bring the risk of a service disaster. To succeed, ALSO. will need replacement parts, service partners and a go-to-market strategy that meets the target audience exactly where they are.
At VanMoof, service costs eventually grew to nearly match the company’s total revenue. The big question: what’s ALSO.’s service concept?
ALSO. quad and ALSO. helmet – more than just an e-SUV
At ALSO., it’s all about the bigger picture. The newly announced quad fits perfectly into that vision – think of it as the modern-day Ape. With a range of modular setups from cargo bike to mini transporter, it turns cycle lanes into high-speed cargo corridors. And naturally, it comes with the ALSO. Wave Helmet, complete with integrated lighting, hi-fi speakers, one-handed operation and a design that sits somewhere between Star Trooper and SWAT gear. If you’re going in with ALSO., go all in.
ALSO. are getting a lot of things right. Their modular e-SUV concept is impressive and could end up setting a new benchmark for the bike industry. Bold. Disruptive. Exciting. Hats off! But there are still plenty of question marks. Only time – and a proper test – will show whether the concept truly works. One thing’s certain: service and distribution will be among the biggest hurdles. We’re watching closely and looking forward to what comes next.
Words: Patrick Gruber Photos: ALSO
