Inside the Delivery Delays of Rivian's Also TM-B E-Bike

Rivian's E-Bike Hits a Delivery Snag

Also, Rivian's micromobility subsidiary, has issued a public apology to customers over delays in shipping its highly anticipated electric bicycle, the TM-B. The product wowed the e-bike industry at its debut last year, but the missed delivery timeline has left pre-order customers frustrated.

Spun out of Rivian as an independent brand, Also was built with an ambitious goal: extending the software and hardware capabilities Rivian developed for electric vehicles into the two-wheeled mobility space. But as with so many hardware products, the road from a jaw-dropping concept to actual mass production has proven far rougher than expected.

How the TM-B Captured the Industry's Attention

Software-Defined Riding

The TM-B's biggest draw is its software-controlled design philosophy — a direct extension of the "software-defined vehicle" approach Rivian champions in its electric trucks. The most striking feature is a steer-by-wire pedal system: where traditional bikes use a chain or belt to mechanically transfer pedaling force to the wheels, the TM-B coordinates and controls power output through software instead.

This design means the riding experience can be continuously refined through over-the-air updates, giving the e-bike a smartphone-like ability to evolve over time. In a traditional bicycle industry dominated by mechanical systems, that's a genuinely disruptive concept.

Convenience and Modular Design

Beyond the core drive-by-wire system, the TM-B introduces a number of thoughtful innovations:

• USB-C charging battery: Using the universally adopted USB-C standard for charging removes the need for a proprietary charger, dramatically lowering the barrier for everyday users.
• Removable seat post: A modular design that makes maintenance, transport, and personalization far more flexible.

Together, these features paint the picture of a highly differentiated product — one that stood out in a crowded e-bike market and earned the brand a strong base of early fans and pre-orders.

From a Stunning Launch to a Missed Deadline

The real-world rollout, however, hasn't gone as smoothly as the announcement suggested. Also's public apology stems directly from the TM-B's pushed-back ship date, leaving eager pre-order customers disappointed.

For any hardware startup, the leap from concept product to scaled production is one of the hardest gaps to bridge. The more innovative the design, the more complex the supply chain and the higher the bar for manufacturing precision. The TM-B's cutting-edge technologies — the by-wire pedal system chief among them — are likely key contributors to the production timeline slipping.

This kind of delay is hardly unique in the tech world. From electric vehicles to smart hardware, early adopters who bet on innovation often end up absorbing the risk of late delivery as part of the deal.

The Real Challenges of Hardware Innovation

When a Software-First DNA Meets the Realities of Mass Production

As a Rivian spin-off, Also is deeply shaped by a software-first mindset. That DNA gives its products a distinctive innovative character — but it may also leave the team underprepared for the sheer complexity of manufacturing at scale. Software can iterate quickly and update at any time; hardware, once it enters production, has no such luxury. Any delay in any part of the process translates directly into a later ship date.

The Importance of Managing Customer Expectations

The public apology also reflects Also's efforts to communicate transparently and manage customer expectations. Proactively informing customers and saying sorry doesn't erase frustration, but it does signal that the brand respects its users. For an emerging brand that depends heavily on early-adopter goodwill and community support, handling delays with grace is a critical skill — and a test that every hardware startup eventually faces.

What This Means for the E-Bike Industry

Rivian and Also's TM-B represents a bold attempt to bring traditional EV manufacturing expertise into the micromobility space. Its innovations — software-defined riding, a by-wire pedal system, modular components — are genuinely exciting. But the delivery delays serve as yet another reminder: a great idea is only the beginning. Turning that idea into a reliable, scalable product is the real test of any company's capabilities.

For customers who already placed orders, patience is likely the only option for now. For the industry at large, whether the TM-B ultimately delivers on its disruptive promise remains a question only the market can answer.