Also, the micromobility startup spun out from Rivian in 2025, has quietly abandoned an electric motorcycle pilot in Kenya earlier this year to concentrate on its e-bike product launch and autonomous vehicle projects.
Kenya Two-Wheeler Project Shelved
The Kenya pilot, backed by funding from the Shell Foundation, aimed to create an integrated electric two-wheeler platform with modular batteries, distributed charging infrastructure, and a bespoke e-motorcycle suited for local riders. The plan included scaling the system across East Africa. However, Also ceased work on the project after conducting only early-stage exploration. It said its grant will continue to support development, though details on progress remain scarce.
Delays, Supply Chain Struggles & Communication Missteps
Projects beyond Kenya, especially Also’s autonomous vehicle efforts—such as its partnership with DoorDash—have taken priority. The startup’s first consumer product, the TM-B premium e-bike, also faced numerous delays in 2026 due to supply chain bottlenecks, difficulty securing needed materials, and regulatory certification challenges across multiple jurisdictions.
Compounding the issue: reservation holders were left in the dark for much of the summer as the company worked behind the scenes. Also admits it failed to keep customers updated consistently, especially during the TM-B’s delayed rollout. Deliveries eventually began in early October, but early users have reported damage in transit and battery drain issues.
Looking Ahead: Autonomy & Commercial Bikes
Beyond the TM-B, Also is gearing up to unveil more commercially focused vehicles—cargo bikes for companies like Amazon and even four-wheeled models. These are expected to deliver higher margins and faster growth. But for now, Also says its immediate focus remains getting the first product right.
The Kenya pilot raised expectations for Also to make inroads into Africa’s large two-wheeler market. The continent is seeing rapid growth in EV motorcycle use: companies are running thousands of e-motorcycles and battery swap stations—drawing investment from Chinese mobility firms and others.
Also’s leadership argues Kenya made sense as a pilot, given the startup’s goal of designing vehicles optimized for specific markets. But pressures of meeting consumer product timelines and pushing autonomy work pulled the company away.
With the TM-B finally shipping in early October, Also is under spotlight—its design attracted curiosity, but its execution now faces public scrutiny. Early adopters are already dealing with real product issues, and patience from reservation holders depends on better communication.
On the whole, Also’s shifts underscore how startups in electric mobility must balance ambition with execution. Pioneering work in underserved markets, like Kenya, offers promise but also complexity. What Also chose to prioritize—and what it walked away from—reveals both the weight of supply chain disruptions and the allure of autonomy as a potential growth frontier.
Also matters because its performance could signal how new entrants tackle the twin challenges of delivering hardware and pivoting among product lines. The TM-B’s success—or missteps—will shape trust, while the move toward commercial and autonomous vehicles suggests a broader strategy. Going forward, watch how Also addresses early adopter complaints and scales beyond its first consumer model without sacrificing the bold goals that defined its founding.
