Rivian Spinout Also Raises $150M to Expand From E-Bikes to Autonomous Delivery Vehicles

TL;DR

• Micromobility startup Also, spun out of Rivian in early 2025, has raised an additional $150M led by Prysm Capital to scale its platform beyond e-bikes.
• The new capital will fund Also's expansion from its current pedal-assist e-bikes and commercial cargo quadricycles into autonomous last-mile delivery vehicles.
• The move positions Also as a direct challenger in the crowded last-mile delivery space, signaling a broader shift as EV players race to own low-cost, software-defined urban logistics.

From Skunkworks Project to Standalone Powerhouse

Also began life quietly inside Rivian as a stealth micromobility program focused on lightweight, affordable electric vehicles that could complement Rivian's adventure-focused trucks and SUVs. Formally spun out as an independent company in early 2025 with backing from Eclipse Ventures, Also was built to operate with startup speed while leveraging Rivian's engineering, supply chain, and software expertise.

Led by former Rivian leadership and operating as a separate entity, the company launched with a clear initial focus: premium pedal-assist electric bikes and four-wheeled commercial cargo quads designed for urban use, fleet operations, and campus mobility. The concept was to fill the gap between traditional e-bikes and full-size electric vans — small, efficient, and purpose-built for dense cities where large delivery vehicles are costly and impractical.

Inside Rivian, the project was seen as a way to expand the company's addressable market without distracting from its core consumer and commercial van business. As a standalone company, Also has been able to attract its own investors, talent, and customers.

The $150M Round and Why Prysm Capital Led It

The new $150M round, led by Prysm Capital with participation from existing investors, more than doubles Also's total funding to date and values the company significantly higher than at its spinout. Prysm Capital, known for its bets at the intersection of mobility, technology, and consumer hardware, is making a clear statement that small-form-factor EVs are not a niche side bet.

According to the company, the funding will be used for three core priorities: scaling manufacturing capacity, growing its engineering and operations teams, and accelerating product development. While Also has not disclosed detailed financials, the raise suggests strong early traction for its first-generation bikes and quads with fleet and commercial partners, and investor confidence in its ability to execute on a much more ambitious roadmap.

For Rivian, which retains a minority stake in Also, the deal validates its strategy of incubating and spinning out new ventures rather than trying to build every product in-house.

Beyond E-Bikes and Quads: The Autonomous Delivery Play

The most significant takeaway from the funding announcement is where Also is headed next. The company confirmed it will use the fresh capital to move beyond human-powered and human-piloted vehicles into autonomous delivery vehicles.

Also's next-generation platform is expected to build on its existing quad architecture — a stable, cargo-optimized, four-wheeled form factor that is already designed for payload, efficiency, and sidewalk and bike-lane operation. By adding autonomy, Also aims to offer a low-cost, fully electric solution for last-mile delivery that can operate with minimal human intervention.

This puts Also in direct competition with a wave of startups and established players developing sidewalk robots and autonomous delivery pods, but with a key differentiator: Also is designing both the vehicle hardware and the underlying software stack from the ground up, with Rivian DNA in its engineering culture. The company has hinted that its autonomous system will focus on geo-fenced, urban and suburban routes — such as corporate campuses, residential neighborhoods, and retail delivery corridors — rather than trying to solve full self-driving for passenger cars.

Early pilots for the autonomous platform are expected to begin with select commercial partners within the next year, targeting use cases like food, parcel, and grocery delivery.

What It Signals for Last-Mile Delivery and the EV Race

Also's expansion comes at a pivotal moment for both micromobility and last-mile logistics. Delivery costs remain the most expensive and inefficient part of e-commerce, and retailers and logistics giants are desperate for cheaper, cleaner, and more automated options as labor costs rise and emissions regulations tighten in cities worldwide.

At the same time, the competitive EV landscape is fragmenting. While major automakers battle over electric trucks and SUVs, a new front is opening around small, software-defined vehicles that can be deployed at scale for fleets. Rivian's decision to spin out Also now looks prescient — it allows Rivian to stay focused on its R1 and R2 platforms and its commercial van partnership with Amazon, while Also chases the massive, underserved market for lightweight electric utility vehicles.

If Also can successfully bridge the gap from beloved e-bikes to reliable autonomous delivery vehicles, it won't just be a Rivian side project anymore. It could become a foundational player in how goods move through cities — and a serious threat to both micromobility startups and legacy delivery vehicle makers who have been slow to adapt.

AndroGuider Team

Articles written by the AndroGuider team. We try to make them thorough and informational while being easy to read.