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

The electric motorcycle market in Africa, which has significant potential, will not see Also's planned contribution.

Rivian spinout Also has abandoned an electric motorcycle pilot project in Kenya that was intended to explore the African EV market. The company, which spun out of Rivian in 2025, received grant funding from the Shell Foundation for this initiative. The project aimed to pilot a locally integrated electric two-wheeler platform, develop modular battery designs, and create a purpose-built electric motorcycle for African riders. Also stated that it completed only "some early-stage work" before deciding to focus on its core roadmap, which includes consumer e-bikes and autonomous vehicle development. This decision comes after Also faced significant supply chain issues that delayed the launch of its premium e-bike, the TM-B, and a period of poor communication with customers regarding these delays. The company is now prioritizing its e-bike production and autonomous vehicle partnerships, including one with DoorDash.

Also's withdrawal from the Kenyan e-moto project highlights the intense competition for resources within nascent mobility startups. The company's decision to prioritize its autonomous vehicle ambitions, particularly its partnership with DoorDash, signals a strategic pivot toward potentially higher-margin or more technologically advanced ventures. This also suggests that the African EV market, despite its size, may be perceived as a longer-term play or one requiring different operational expertise than the company currently possesses or wishes to deploy.

The challenges faced by Also in launching its TM-B e-bike, including supply chain disruptions and communication failures, likely influenced its decision to streamline its focus. For the broader micromobility and EV sectors, this underscores the difficulties of scaling operations, managing complex global supply chains, and meeting customer expectations, especially for newly independent companies. The future of the Kenyan project, supported by Shell Foundation grants, remains uncertain, but its discontinuation points to the high-risk nature of expanding into emerging markets.