John Paul M. Joaquin Auto 02.06.2023 01:Feb AM EST

Rivian Might Be Developing an E-Bike To Expand Its Market

Rivian might be serious in its interest in e-bikes.

The automaker reportedly told its employees it is expanding into the electric bike market by developing its first e-bike.

Rivian previously showed interest in e-bikes as early as 2022, according to Electrek, with the company hinting at it through a patent application posted on the Rivian Forums.

Rivian E-Bike Development Details

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe mentioned to the company's employees during a company-wide meeting that it is developing an e-bike, according to Bloomberg's sources who are familiar with the proceedings. He also added that a small group of engineers is already working on it.

These engineers may have e-bike designers Rivian poached from other major brands like Specialized, augmenting its e-bike design team ahead of development, per Electrek.

The sources asked not to be named, as the information they disclosed was private.

Unfortunately, Scaringe didn't specify if the bike the company is developing was a battery-operated e-bike or bicycle. However, it did apply for patents for e-bike components and designs in Jan. 2022, which was posted on the Rivian Forums.

Interestingly, the patent includes e-bike components specially adapted for e-bikes, such as battery packs. Whether this inclusion means that the e-bike Rivian is developing is battery-operated is still up for debate.

Rivian representatives have declined to comment on the information Bloomberg received, nor have they addressed it since the publication received it.

Regardless of Rivian's refusal to comment on the information, the company's revelation came in the same week as its announcement of layoffs, affecting 6% of its workforce, per Engadget. According to the company, the issues it encountered in its efforts to cut costs amid its production ramp forced them to execute another layoff.

Additionally, this layoff represents the second major restructuring the company undertook in less than a year, with it saying it was an effort to refocus itself on scaling production of its battery-electric pickup R1T and its plug-in R1S SUV electric vehicles and put itself on the way to long-term profitability.

Scaringe also addressed the layoffs during the meeting, saying that the company has spread itself then by trying to do too much at once.

The Appeal Of The E-Bike Market

Rivian expanding to the e-bike market seems like a good idea. Its growth, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, was impressive due to the increasing popularity of e-bikes; they consistently outsold electric cars and trucks because they're significantly cheaper to produce and are more affordable to consumers.

The selling of e-bikes also has fewer regulatory hurdles than selling EVs and electric trucks, further reducing their costs and decreasing their development period.

Additionally, many urban residents are calling for the use of safer alternative means of transportation in urban areas, especially in cities. Using massive electric trucks and SUVs is becoming frowned upon by many urban residents as they take up too much public space and that they endanger city residents due to their size.