Is Rad Power Bikes Riding into the Sunset? - Streetsblog USA

"Seattle-based e-bike giant Rad Power Bikes has filed official notice to Washington State as well as the company's 64 Washington employees that the company could end operations "as early as January 2026." A Nov. 7 filing with the state ( PDF) warns both service-level workers at the company's retail and repair shop as well as corporate workers at its Seattle headquarters that layoffs could start as early as Jan. 9, 2026."

"A Rad Power Bikes spokesperson said in a statement to Seattle Bike Blog that "no final decisions have been made," and the company's leaders are "actively pursuing all viable options to keep the company operating." A letter to employees blames a combination of factors to explain the company's financial crisis, including tariffs and the industry-wide drop in consumer demand for bikes following the sales boom during the early years of the Covid pandemic."

"The letter also states that Rad was close to some kind of major buyout or investment recently, but "unfortunately, that did not come to fruition." The company urged workers to "keep providing excellent service to keep fighting." Founded in 2005, the Seattle-based e-bike retailer grew to become one of the largest direct-to-consumer bike makers in the U.S. It has offered everything from city bikes to cargo bikes to off-road bikes, and often for lower prices than most physical bike shops could offer."

Rad Power Bikes filed official notice with Washington State warning it could end operations in Washington as early as January 2026 and that layoffs could begin January 9, 2026. The filing names both retail and repair service workers and corporate staff at the Seattle headquarters; 64 Washington employees are included. A company spokesperson said no final decisions have been made and leaders are pursuing options to keep the company operating. A letter to employees cited tariffs, an industry-wide drop in post-pandemic consumer demand, and a failed buyout or investment as drivers of the financial crisis. The company expanded rapidly after 2005, briefly entered Europe in 2022, then contracted through multiple layoffs and leadership changes; it has faced several high-profile lawsuits. The company has urged employees to continue providing excellent service while exploring possibilities to remain open.

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