Frustration has been building for months among early backers of the TM-B, the flagship electric bicycle from Also, the micromobility company spun out of Rivian. What began as a promising spring 2026 launch window slipped first to summer, then to waves of deliveries stretching into early November. Now, with fall settling in, no paying customers appear to have received their bikes. The company took an unusual step this past weekend. It posted a lengthy apology directly on Reddit.
Saul Leiken, Also’s product manager, authored the 661-word response. He acknowledged the repeated timeline shifts and the silence that accompanied them. “With any complex and technology-laden product, we have a choice,” Leiken wrote. “As we ramp production we can relax standards against an original timeline or we can hold to a high standard and face potential delays. We believe our decision to hold that standard was, and is, the right one. And, at the same time, we agree that we should have been more communicative along the way.”
The admission lands amid growing customer irritation visible across online forums. Some reservation holders voiced anger over shifting dates and what they saw as miscommunication. Others simply canceled. The TM-B had generated real excitement at its unveiling last October. Its combination of features stood out. A software-controlled pedal-by-wire system. A removable seat post. A USB-C chargeable battery. Over-the-air updates. Integrated connectivity that borrowed from Rivian’s vehicle software. All of it wrapped in a modular frame weighing about 80 pounds with up to 100 miles of range on higher-end models.
Yet that very sophistication created the bottlenecks. Also pinned the latest setbacks on “significant supply chain challenges” tied to the AI boom. Demand for printed circuit boards and integrated circuits surged across industries. The components proved hard to secure in the volumes needed. Production slowed. Testing extended. The company refused to ship unfinished goods. Quality first. That stance sounds admirable. It also explains why bikes shown coming off the line in factory photos have yet to appear in customer garages.
The pattern echoes broader troubles at Rivian itself. The parent company recently recalled nearly 35,000 electric delivery vans over seat belt issues linked to driver misuse, according to a report in WardsAuto. Additional recalls for turn signals and other components have surfaced in recent months. Also operates independently. Still, the shared DNA and supplier relationships mean headaches travel. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe sits on Also’s board. The e-bike project originated inside Rivian in 2022 as a skunkworks effort aimed at outdoor enthusiasts. It spun out in 2025 with $105 million from Eclipse Ventures and later raised more from Greenoaks Capital, pushing its valuation above $1 billion.
Early signals looked strong. Also hired talent from Jony Ive’s LoveFrom design firm for initial concepts. It promised a repairable, software-rich machine that could receive updates improving performance and adding features like parental controls to limit speed. The Launch Edition carried a $4,500 price tag. Standard versions started below $4,000. Preorders required only a $50 deposit. Buyers received assurances of spring 2026 deliveries. Then reality intervened.
In June, the company updated its support page. “The primary factor driving our updated summer timeline is current stress on global supply chains,” it stated, as quoted by TechCrunch. “A rapid, industry-wide spike in demand for raw materials and electronic components has impacted key parts required for the TM-B.” Engineering teams worked overtime. No corners were cut on safety. By late July, Also told reporters that Launch Edition units had begun shipping from the factory to a U.S. warehouse. Deliveries would follow through September. That deadline came and went.
August brought more adjustments. Preorders for reservation holders opened later than planned. Communication emphasized alignment between bike orders and gear shop purchases. Some customers questioned why earlier depositors did not receive priority. By early September, another update arrived. Launch Edition bikes were “now shipping” with arrivals expected in waves through early November, Electrek reported. Regular orders would start shipping afterward, stretching into the end of the year. The phrase “now shipping” sparked debate on Reddit. Had any units reached ordinary buyers? Or did photos and updates reflect only internal testing and influencer samples?
Also has promised more specific estimates throughout September. Its online system will eventually show configuration-based delivery windows. These steps address some complaints. They arrive late. Trust takes time to rebuild when dates move from spring to fall to potentially winter.
The episode highlights tensions facing any hardware startup chasing advanced features. Software-defined vehicles and bicycles demand sophisticated electronics. Those same chips power data centers and AI training clusters. Competition for supply is fierce. Also chose to wait rather than release a compromised product. That decision may pay off once bikes reach owners and demonstrate the promised ride quality, range, and connectivity. Pedal assist up to 28 mph. Thumb throttle to 20 mph. Regenerative braking. A full-color display with precise navigation that factors in assist level and terrain.
But patience has limits. The e-bike market grows more crowded. Lower-priced options from established brands deliver solid performance without the premium tag or software complexity. Also’s modular top frame that swaps between solo, bench, or cargo configurations in seconds offers genuine differentiation. So does the zero-maintenance belt drive rated for 10,000 miles. These advantages matter less if potential buyers grow wary of broken promises.
Leiken’s Reddit post struck a candid tone. He accepted responsibility for poor communication. He defended the quality focus. “We have a choice,” he reminded readers. The company picked the harder path. Whether customers stick around to see the result will determine if that choice proves wise. Deliveries in the coming weeks could quiet the critics. Persistent delays would amplify them. For now, the TM-B remains a compelling idea still searching for its first real-world validation.
Recent coverage from The Verge captured the latest apology and its context. Industry observers note that supply pressures from artificial intelligence investments show few signs of easing. Also’s experience serves as a case study in the gap between ambitious product visions and the gritty realities of component sourcing in 2026.
Rivian Spinoff Also’s High-Tech E-Bike Hits Another Wall: Quality Demands Meet Supply Shortages first appeared on Web and IT News.