LoveFrom, the acclaimed creative agency established by former Apple design maestro Jony Ive, has been intricately involved in the conceptualization of Rivian's pioneering electric bicycle, as reported by TechCrunch from multiple informed sources.

For a period encompassing 18 months, a select group from LoveFrom collaborated closely with Rivian's design and engineering teams in a covert initiative spearheaded by Chris Yu, the ex-chief product and technology officer of Specialized. The creative partnership between LoveFrom and Rivian on this micromobility venture concluded in the autumn of 2024, the sources disclosed.

Both LoveFrom and Rivian have refrained from making any public comments on the matter.

Rivian's clandestine project, which evolved into a robust team of approximately 70 experts sourced from industry giants such as Apple, Google, Specialized, Tesla, and REI Co-Op, has since been rebranded and secured $105 million in investment from Eclipse Ventures.

This innovative micromobility entity, now known as Also, is yet to unveil its inaugural vehicle designs. In discussions with TechCrunch, Rivian's founder and CEO RJ Scaringe, who also serves on Also's board, along with Yu, remained reticent about the specifics of the new company's first vehicle.

Scaringe provided a teaser in March, hinting that the vehicle would feature "a seat, two wheels, a screen, several computers, and a battery," describing it as "bike-like," a characterization corroborated by various insiders.

Moreover, Scaringe and Yu envisaged a broad scope for Also, with potential expansions into diverse micromobility segments. The company is expected to debut its initial designs at an event slated for later this year. An Also representative declined to offer any insights into the bike or its association with LoveFrom.

In the event of the electric bicycle's unveiling, it is anticipated that Jony Ive's design influence will be prominently evident.

Jony Ive is renowned for his pivotal role in designing iconic Apple products, notably the iPhone, and has recently collaborated with Sam Altman and OpenAI. His engagement with Rivian is not his first foray into the realm of transportation. In 2021, Ferrari's parent company announced that Ive's firm would aid in developing its next-generation supercars. Ive has also contributed to Apple's secretive car initiative, advocating for a focus on autonomous technology, a vision that clashed with those championing a traditional electric vehicle approach, leading to the project's discontinuation last year.

Sources revealed to TechCrunch that LoveFrom has provided consultancy to Rivian on various fronts, including the redesign of its infotainment system and retail strategies, as corroborated by two former employees familiar with the partnership. However, its involvement in the nascent stages of what would eventually become Also was marked by a more formalized and committed engagement, according to another insider.

The skunkworks initiative commenced in early 2022 with the goal of exploring the miniaturization and affordability of Rivian's EV technology, originally designed for its larger electric vans, trucks, and SUVs.

Initially, the compact team collaborated with Rivian's designers to conceptualize a scalable product applicable to a range of vehicles. A crucial design hurdle was creating a modular, bike-like product while preserving the high aesthetic standards synonymous with Rivian.

By the time LoveFrom joined the project at the onset of 2023, significant progress had been made. Their contribution was instrumental in refining the prototypes, as recounted by sources involved in the process.