Also, the micromobility company spun out of Rivian in 2025, explored an electric motorcycle project in Kenya before walking away from it earlier this year. Co-founder and president Chris Yu told TechCrunch that the company chose to prioritize autonomous vehicles after completing only early-stage work on the pilot.

The project received funding from the Shell Foundation, an independent charity. A description that was later removed from the foundation’s website said the initiative was intended to test a locally integrated electric two-wheeler platform in Kenya, with the possibility of expanding across East Africa. The work was expected to include modular batteries, distributed charging and a motorcycle designed for African riders.

Also said in a September email that it had explored the project with an unnamed partner, but decided to concentrate on its core roadmap. The company added that its Shell Foundation grant would continue to support the project’s development, but did not provide further details. The foundation said the pilot was intended to assess potential improvements to driver income, operational performance and commercial viability, while declining to comment further because of a nondisclosure agreement.

Yu said the Kenya project initially aligned with Also’s aim to build small vehicles tailored to the needs of particular markets. However, he said the pace and urgency of the company’s autonomous-vehicle work made it more important to focus its attention there. Also is developing small autonomous vehicles through a partnership with DoorDash.

The shift comes as Also works to stabilize the launch of its first product, the TM-B, a premium electric bike. Supply-chain issues repeatedly delayed deliveries, which began in early October, and the company acknowledged that it had not kept reservation holders adequately informed during the summer.

Yu said the delays had no single cause. The company faced changing supply problems, including competition for materials used in printed circuit boards, as well as certification requirements from different government agencies. He described the TM-B as a complex product and said new challenges emerged frequently, making reliable updates difficult.

Also’s roadmap extends beyond consumer e-bikes. Yu said commercial cargo bikes, including four-wheeled models, and vehicles connected to the DoorDash partnership are among the company’s next projects and offer larger revenue opportunities. For now, the TM-B remains its first priority, while early customers have reported issues such as delivery damage and battery drain.

Sources: TechCrunch.