Jony Ive and LoveFrom Design Rivian's Electric Bike

LoveFrom’s Involvement in Rivian’s Electric Bike Development

According to reports from multiple sources speaking with TechCrunch, LoveFrom, the design firm established by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, contributed to the creation of Rivian’s initial electric bicycle.

Collaboration with Rivian’s Team

For approximately 18 months, a select group of LoveFrom personnel collaborated with Rivian’s design and engineering teams. This work occurred within a dedicated, exploratory program overseen by Chris Yu, formerly the chief product and technology officer at Specialized.

Sources indicate that LoveFrom’s participation in this micromobility initiative concluded in the fall of 2024. Both LoveFrom and Rivian have declined to provide official statements regarding this collaboration.

The Spin-Out: Also

Rivian’s internal program, which ultimately expanded to a team of around 70 individuals with backgrounds from companies like Apple, Google, Specialized, Tesla, and REI Co-Op, was restructured earlier this year.

It emerged as a new entity named Also, backed by $105 million in funding from Eclipse Ventures. Currently, Also has not publicly unveiled any of its vehicle designs.

Vague Descriptions of the New Vehicle

In discussions with TechCrunch, Rivian’s founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe (who also serves on Also’s board), and Chris Yu remained deliberately ambiguous about the specifics of the company’s first product.

Scaringe described the vehicle as having “a seat, and there’s two wheels, there’s a screen, and there’s a few computers and a battery.” He further characterized it as being “bike-like,” a description corroborated by sources.

A Broader Vision for Micromobility

Both Scaringe and Yu alluded to a more expansive vision for Also, suggesting its potential to address a wide range of micromobility form factors. The company is scheduled to reveal its initial designs at an event later in the year.

A spokesperson for Also declined to comment on the bike or any potential connection to LoveFrom.

Ive’s Potential Influence

Upon the unveiling of the electric “bike,” it is plausible that Jony Ive’s design influence will be readily apparent.

Ive’s Wider Design Portfolio

Jony Ive is widely recognized for his pivotal role in the design of the iPhone and numerous other Apple products. More recently, he has been involved with Sam Altman and OpenAI.

However, his work with Rivian represents not his first venture into the automotive sector. Ferrari announced in 2021 that Ive’s firm would contribute to the development of its next-generation vehicles.

Ive was also a key figure in Apple’s confidential car project, advocating for a focus on autonomous technology, while others within the company favored a more conventional electric vehicle approach. Apple ultimately discontinued this project in early 2023.

LoveFrom’s Consulting Role

Sources have revealed to TechCrunch that LoveFrom has previously acted as a consultant for Rivian, assisting with aspects such as the redesign of the company’s infotainment system and its retail strategy, as indicated by two former employees familiar with the arrangement.

However, their involvement with what would become Also was a more focused and comprehensive undertaking, according to another source with knowledge of the relationship.

Origins of the Skunkworks Program

The exploratory program commenced in early 2022 with the objective of determining whether Rivian’s electric vehicle technology could be adapted for smaller, more affordable vehicles than its existing vans, trucks, and SUVs.

Design Challenges and Modular Aesthetics

The initial team concentrated on developing a product that could be scaled to various vehicle types. A central design challenge involved creating a modular product while upholding the refined aesthetics that Rivian has become known for.

By early 2023, when LoveFrom became involved, significant progress had already been made, with the team focusing on refining the prototypes.

A Collaborative Design Process

The collaboration was characterized as a “pretty tight” partnership between the skunkworks team, LoveFrom’s staff, and Rivian’s industrial designers based in Irvine. This group examined all aspects of the bike, including its user interface and UX.

LoveFrom’s industrial design team, known for its expertise in thoughtful and efficient packaging, played a particularly significant role, bringing an interdisciplinary and international perspective to the project.