BIKE/BOARD

What’s Also? Rivian Quietly Spun Off a Micromobility Company. And It Might Actually Work.

March 28, 2025

Rivian spun off its micromobility unit into a new company, Also, Inc.
Also secured $105 million in funding from Eclipse Ventures.
RJ Scaringe will chair Also’s Board and Rivian retains minority ownership.

Think EVs are all big trucks and pricey SUVs? Think again. Rivian just reminded everyone that small, lightweight electric vehicles still matter, and they’re not giving up on that idea. They’re doubling down. Just not the way you’d expect.

This week, Rivian quietly split off its micromobility division into a brand-new company: Also, Inc. Not a side hustle. A real, focused entity with one job: build small electric vehicles for personal use that actually make sense in cities, suburbs, and everywhere in between.

The name might feel a little vague now, but the purpose behind it couldn’t be clearer. Rivian didn’t stumble into micromobility. This was deliberate. Years of quiet development under a stealth program that started with one simple question: What if the same minds behind premium electric trucks turned their attention to small-format vehicles?

Turns out, they could.

“I am extremely excited about the innovations developed by the Also team that will underpin a range of highly compelling micromobility products that will help define new categories,” said RJ Scaringe, Rivian’s Founder and CEO.

Micromobility hasn’t had the best reputation lately. VanMoof folded. Bird is barely hanging on. Lime’s business model is still under pressure. Too much hype. Not enough substance. Venture money couldn’t paper over messy logistics, theft issues, high maintenance costs, or unclear paths to profitability. The micromobility sector got ahead of itself.

But this? This feels different.

Instead of trying to squeeze profits out of free-floating rentals or chase inflated valuations, Also is backed by $105 million in fresh capital from Eclipse Ventures and carries with it a focused product vision, a hardware-first strategy, and real tech chops from its parent. Rivian isn’t walking away. It’s still holding a substantial minority stake in the new company. That matters. So does the fact that RJ Scaringe will chair the board at Also. That’s not something you do for a throwaway idea.

And unlike earlier micromobility companies that treated their vehicles like disposable tech, Also wants to build durable, software-enabled, personal electric vehicles. The kind you own. Rely on. Actually like. Think lightweight electric vehicles, built from the same DNA as a high-performance EV, just distilled into something more nimble, affordable, and useful.

Rivian isn’t being coy about the vision, either.

“For the world to fully transition to electrified transportation, a range of vehicle types and form factors will be needed,” Scaringe said.

That quote hits different when you realize how little attention most EV makers pay to form factor diversity. Big SUVs and luxury sedans dominate headlines. But the real transportation gap, especially in crowded cities or cash-conscious households, is something lighter, smaller, more agile. Something most Americans don’t even realize they want until they see it.

Rivian secures $6.6 billion loan for Georgia facility to produce R2 and R3 SUVs. — _{Rivian R2 electric truck on display at Electrify Expo with people gathered around.}

And for timing, Rivian’s got a lot on its plate right now with the R2 and R3 launches lined up and production getting prepped in Normal, Illinois. So spinning out a side program into a separate entity? Smart. Keeps the mainline operation focused while letting the new company work at startup speed with faster cycles, tighter focus, leaner teams. Meanwhile, Also could selectively tap into Rivian’s retail footprint or tech resources when it makes sense.

That’s not just a split. That’s strategy.

Now, critics might say this is a distraction or a hedge. But think about it, when the rest of the industry is trimming down, Rivian is playing longball. Let the others retreat. Rivian is saying: there’s value in small. Value in personal. Value in the everyday stuff. Because not every electric vehicle needs to be a 7,000-pound behemoth.

Also isn’t trying to be Tesla 2.0. It’s trying to be something else entirely. A new category of lightweight electric vehicles built for real-world utility. That includes micromobility, sure, but also anything in the sweet spot between walking and driving a full-size EV.

Here’s what to watch for next: product reveals. Also says it’ll share more details soon. That might include e-bikes, compact three-wheelers, seated scooters, or totally new formats we haven’t seen yet, perhaps even an electric golf cart. And if the tech is half as good as what’s in a Rivian R1, expect these things to be smarter, tougher, and far more reliable than anything currently on the market.