Rivian spinout Also apologizes for delays in shipping futuristic e-bikes

The TM-B was never just another e-bike. With its pedal-by-wire architecture — replacing the traditional mechanical chain of command between rider and drivetrain with software — Also positioned itself as the Apple of micromobility, not the next Schwinn. That framing worked: the bike "set the e-bike world ablaze" precisely because it rejected incrementalism. But the apology now reveals the double-edged nature of that strategy. When you sell a vision of seamless, software-controlled mobility, a delayed delivery isn't just a logistics hiccup; it's a breach of the product's core narrative. There's a bitter irony here that deserves attention. Also's parent company, Rivian, endured its own production hell — the famous "production ramp" that nearly sank the automaker before it found its footing. One would expect a spinoff to internalize those lessons. Instead, the TM-B's delay suggests that the gravitational pull of "futuristic" design remains stronger than the discipline of supply-chain realism. The e-bike industry has matured to the point where battery supply, motor sourcing, and regulatory certification are solved problems; the TM-B's unique software stack and novel hardware (that removable seat post isn't just aesthetic — it's a structural and safety compromise) likely introduced failure modes that conventional e-bikes simply don't have. For consumers, the apology is a stress test of brand loyalty. Early adopters who plunked down deposits were buying into a promise of a computing platform on two wheels, not just a mode of transport. Every week of delay erodes that promise, especially as competitors like VanMoof (RIP) and Cowboy have shown that "smart" e-bikes can ship — albeit with their own reliability controversies. Also's challenge isn't just to eventually deliver the TM-B; it's to deliver one that justifies both the wait and the price tag, while convincing the market that "software-defined" isn't code for "perpetually beta." The deeper lesson for the broader tech ecosystem is one Tech Pulse has hammered before: hardware is not software. You cannot patch a delayed shipment with an OTA update. Also's apology is a necessary first step, but it's a reminder that the companies winning the future will be those that treat logistics with the same reverence they reserve for industrial design. [Source: https://www.theverge.com/transportation/991707/rivian-also-tmb-ebike-delay-apology]