Rivian's founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has spun off a new company, Also, with a whopping $105 million in funding from Eclipse Ventures. The startup, which has been operating in stealth mode, aims to revolutionize the micromobility industry by creating affordable, high-quality electric vehicles that cater to both consumers and commercial businesses.

The idea for Also was born out of a small skunkworks program within Rivian, which set out to explore the possibility of condensing the company's technology into smaller, more affordable form factors. The program, which consisted of about 70 people from top tech companies like Apple, Google, and Tesla, discovered that the concept was not only feasible but also had massive potential.

Scaringe, who will serve on Also's board, emphasized that the goal is to make Rivian-quality micromobility available at affordable prices. He criticized the current state of the e-bike industry, stating that high prices are a result of a poorly developed supply chain. Also plans to leverage Rivian's technology, retail presence, and economies of scale to drive down costs and offer high-quality products at competitive prices.

Although Scaringe and the Also team are being coy about their first product, they hinted that it will have a bike-like form factor, featuring a seat, two wheels, a screen, and a few computers and a battery. The startup plans to put its flagship product into production next year for consumers in the United States and Europe, with eventual expansion into Asia and South America for both consumer and commercial markets.

Chris Yu, Rivian's VP of future programs, will serve as Also's president. Yu emphasized the potential for Also's products in the commercial sector, particularly in dense metro areas where small form factor EVs are in high demand. He mentioned that the company is in "reasonably advanced discussions" with exciting partners, although he declined to name any specific companies.

Scaringe and Yu believe that Also has the potential to disrupt the micromobility industry, not only as a consumer play but also as a scalable platform approach for commercial businesses. The company is willing to explore various form factors to serve the needs of its customers, although Scaringe acknowledged that there are practical limitations to what they can achieve.

The spin-off of Also from Rivian marks a significant milestone in the electric vehicle industry, as it demonstrates the potential for innovation and disruption in the micromobility space. With its substantial funding and access to Rivian's technology and expertise, Also is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the market.

As the micromobility industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Also's products and services shape the market. With its focus on affordability, quality, and scalability, Also is poised to become a major player in the electric vehicle industry.