Rivian Spinout Also Walks Away From Kenya E-Moto Project

When a promising hardware startup spins out from a major electric vehicle manufacturer, big things are naturally expected. For Also, a micromobility company born out of Rivian in 2025, those early expectations included a quiet foray into international markets. However, internal shifts and fierce operational realities changed the trajectory. Earlier this year, Also quietly initiated and subsequently walked away from an electric two-wheeler pilot project in Kenya, choosing instead to double down on consumer e-bikes and small autonomous delivery hardware.

The cancelled African venture had initially secured grant backing from the Shell Foundation, an independent charity established by Shell plc. The goal of the grant was to de-risk global original equipment manufacturer entry into Africa’s burgeoning EV sector by testing a locally integrated electric two-wheeler platform with modular batteries and distributed charging networks. Yet, internal prioritization shifts forced company leadership to reallocate capital and engineering bandwidth away from the cross-border pilot before it ever scaled beyond preliminary work.

Strategic Pivot Toward Autonomous Delivery and Core Products

During an appearance at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, Also co-founder and president Chris Yu explained that the decision to abandon the Kenya pilot boiled down to execution speed and operational urgency. While the African market represents a massive demographic opportunity for two-wheelers—proven by local operators like Spiro scaling past 130,000 electric motorcycles across seven countries—the velocity required to develop commercial autonomy ultimately outpaced the company’s appetite for multi-front expansion.

Also is currently channeling its engineering resources into small autonomous delivery robots developed through a partnership with DoorDash. Yu noted that low-speed, purpose-built autonomous hardware will likely achieve commercial viability and widespread deployment much faster than autonomous passenger cars. This hardware-software synergy requires immense capital and programming focus, leaving little room for parallel emerging-market vehicle programs.

Technical Architecture and Engineering Mechanisms

Engineering electric mobility hardware requires navigating complex mechanical, thermal, and electronic integration hurdles. Also’s product line leverages advanced powertrain topologies, incorporating custom-designed brushless direct-current (BLDC) motors paired with integrated motor controllers that optimize torque delivery across variable loads. In autonomous applications, the compute stack relies on low-power, high-density system-on-chip (SoC) architectures running neural network accelerators for real-time edge processing.

Thermal management remains a critical engineering constraint for both the TM-B e-bike and the DoorDash delivery robots. High ambient operating temperatures—particularly in urban logistics environments—demand active and passive cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling in battery management systems (BMS). The BMS monitors individual cell voltages, state-of-charge, and temperature metrics at millisecond intervals to ensure safety and extend lifecycle durability. Hardware startups frequently stumble when scaling these intricate printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) due to global component allocations and specialized silicon dependencies.

Supply Chain Bottlenecks and the TM-B Delivery Crisis

The strategic retreat from Kenya also coincided with a rocky first year of independent commercial operations, defined by severe supply chain friction for Also’s premier product, the TM-B e-bike. Reservation holders faced extensive delays as Also struggled with component procurement. Yu admitted that the company mismanaged its public relations, remaining largely silent while customers waited for concrete delivery windows.

The TM-B’s complex architecture acts essentially as a computer on wheels, creating distinct procurement hurdles. At various points in the manufacturing cycle, Also found itself competing directly against AI data center hardware manufacturers for scarce raw materials needed to fabricate advanced printed circuit boards. Navigating diverse international safety certifications and regulatory hurdles compounded these delays, resulting in a weekly game of supply chain challenges before shipments finally commenced in October.

Market Implications and Competitive Benchmarks

The electric two-wheeler landscape across East Africa remains fiercely competitive, driven by local operators and Chinese manufacturing investments. By stepping back, Also missed an opportunity to capture early market share in a region experiencing rapid electrification. However, avoiding capital sinkholes is a common survival strategy for hardware startups dealing with high burn rates.

When compared with industry benchmarks such as Zero Motorcycles or specialized Asian e-mobility suppliers, Also’s pivot emphasizes enterprise sustainability over consumer volume. Also’s long-term business plan extends far beyond consumer lifestyle products. The company aims to supply commercial-grade cargo bikes to corporate logistics giants, alongside its autonomous delivery initiatives. These enterprise contracts offer higher margins and greater revenue stability than consumer-facing vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Also walk away from the Kenya electric motorcycle project?

Also decided to redirect its engineering and financial resources toward high-urgency projects, specifically its small autonomous delivery vehicle partnership with DoorDash and clearing its delayed consumer e-bike backlog.

What was the role of the Shell Foundation in the Kenya pilot?

The Shell Foundation provided grant funding to de-risk OEM entry into Africa’s EV market, testing modular batteries, distributed charging infrastructure, and commercial viability for purpose-built electric motorcycles.

When did Also’s first consumer product finally ship?

After months of supply chain delays driven by component shortages and circuit board competition, Also began shipping its TM-B consumer e-bikes to reservation holders in the fall.

How does Also’s autonomous delivery partnership with DoorDash operate?

Also designs and manufactures low-speed, purpose-built autonomous hardware robots that integrate with DoorDash’s logistics network to streamline local last-mile food and retail fulfillment.

Sources and further reading

TechCrunch: Rivian spinout Also was working on an e-moto project in Kenya — until it walked away