Is Rad Power Bikes powering down?

If you purchased or rode an e-bike in the last 10 years, there’s a good chance it was a Rad Power Bike. 

The company, based in Seattle, was one of the first to popularize e-bikes with the general public, and grew to be the largest electric bike company in North America.

But now, the company is on the brink of collapse. A spokesperson told Geekwire last week that Rad faces potential closure as early as January due to “significant financial challenges.”

After virtually building the e-bike industry, and seeing demand quadruple during the pandemic, what went wrong for Rad Power Bikes?

And can they recover? 

GUEST: 

• Geekwire editor Taylor Soper

RELATED LINKS:

• The rise and fall of Rad Power Bikes: From breakout success to the brink of shutdown - Geekwire
• Rad Power Bikes faces possible shutdown as it tries to survive ‘significant financial challenges’ - Geekwire

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.