Also quietly dropped Kenya e-moto pilot to chase autonomy
Original: Rivian spinout Also was working on an e-moto project in Kenya — until it walked away
Why This Matters
Africa's e-moto market is booming; startup retreats signal where AV bets are winning over emerging markets.
Also, the micromobility startup spun out of Rivian in 2025, abandoned a Shell Foundation-funded electric motorcycle pilot in Kenya, citing urgency around its autonomous vehicle work with DoorDash.
Also, spun out of Rivian in 2025, quietly ran and then scrapped an electric two-wheeler pilot in Kenya earlier this year. The project, funded by the Shell Foundation — an independent charity linked to Shell plc — aimed to pilot a locally integrated e-motorcycle platform with potential to scale across East Africa. Goals included modular battery designs, distributed EV charging, and a purpose-built motorcycle for African riders.
In a September email to TechCrunch, Also said it had completed only "some early-stage work" before deciding to "focus on its core roadmap." The company stated the Shell Foundation grant would follow the project to support its ongoing development, though it gave no specifics. The Shell Foundation cited an NDA with Also when pressed — and the project page disappeared from its website shortly after TechCrunch inquired.
At TechCrunch Disrupt last month, Also co-founder and president Chris Yu acknowledged the Kenya project had fit the company's cost-optimized, purpose-built vehicle mission, but said autonomous vehicle development — particularly a partnership with DoorDash — took priority. The African EV two-wheeler market is large; Spiro alone operates over 130,000 electric motorcycles across seven countries.