Rivian Automotive is exploring the development of an electric bike, according to the CEO RJ Scaringe. During a company-wide meeting, Scaringe disclosed the e-bike effort, which is being led by a small group of engineers.
The CEO hinted at the possibility of an e-bike during a conference in October and the company has patents for electric bicycle components and designs. The move into the micromobility sector could potentially expand Rivian’s product lineup, despite recent cuts to headcount across the company.
Scaringe informed staff that the cuts were made to refocus on ramping production of its electric vehicles and achieving profitability in the long-term.
See also: Rivian to Layoff 6% of its Workforce to Reduce Costs and Stay Competitive
Rivian, based in Normal, Illinois, produces three electric vehicle models: the R1T pickup truck, the R1S SUV, and electric vans for Amazon (a major backer). The company is building a second factory in Georgia. In recent news, Rivian faced allegations of prioritizing newer, higher-priced orders.
Despite losing some key executives, the company received approval to continue selling directly to customers in Illinois.
