Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has spun off its skunkworks program into a new startup called Also, which has secured $105 million in funding from Eclipse Ventures to focus on micromobility and the development of compact electric vehicles.
Initially an internal project at Rivian, Also explored whether the company’s technology could be adapted for smaller EVs, including vans, trucks, and SUVs. The findings led to the realization that Rivian’s technology stack could be applied to a new category of electric mobility.
See also: Tesla, Rivian Charging Networks Rated Most Reliable in Consumer Reports Survey
“We’ve been taking the Rivian technology stack and adapting it to much smaller form factors and then coming up with some incredibly exciting embodiments of that technology in these very small form factors,” Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe told Reuters.
Rivian retains a minority stake in Also, with Chris Yu, Rivian’s vice president of future programs, set to lead the new venture as its president. Also plans to unveil its first vehicle designs later this year, with production expected to begin in 2026. The company aims to serve markets in the United States and Europe initially, with future expansion into Asia and South America.
See also: Rivian Expands Illinois Facility to Support R2 Production, Remains on Track for 2026 Launch