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Rad Power Bikes Aims to Assemble E-Bikes in the US, But Challenges Remain
The company says it will move final assembly to a facility in the central US, but fully domestic manufacturing is a tall order.
Published on Mar. 9, 2026
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Rad Power Bikes, under new ownership, has announced plans to move final assembly of its e-bikes to a facility in the central United States. The strategy involves importing components from around the world and assembling them domestically using a just-in-time production model. While this could help Rad better manage inventory and logistics, it falls short of true domestic manufacturing, as the company will still rely heavily on imported motors, batteries, drivetrains, and other key components. The reality is that the e-bike supply chain is highly globalized, making it extremely difficult for any brand to fully manufacture e-bikes in the US.
Why it matters
The promise of 'American-made' e-bikes is appealing, but the challenges of the industry make it a complex proposition. Nearly all e-bikes sold in the US today are manufactured in Asia, and even companies that have tried to push deeper into US production have struggled to fully domesticize their supply chains. Rad's plan highlights the difficulties of building a cost-effective, competitive e-bike brand while relying on imported components.
The details
Rad Power Bikes plans to move final assembly of its e-bikes to a 100,000-square-foot facility in the central United States. The company will import components from around the world and assemble them domestically using a just-in-time production model. Rad will also operate inside a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) to reduce or defer tariffs on imported components until finished products leave the facility. This strategy aims to help Rad better manage inventory and logistics, but it still falls short of fully domestic manufacturing, as the company will rely heavily on imported motors, batteries, drivetrains, and other key components.
- Rad Power Bikes announced its plans in March 2026.
The players
Rad Power Bikes
An electric bike company that has announced plans to move final assembly of its e-bikes to a facility in the central United States.
Life Electric Vehicles Holdings
The new owner of Rad Power Bikes, which is leading the company's efforts to shift production to the US.
Electric Bike Company
A company that has previously tried to push deeper into US production of e-bikes, but still relied heavily on imported components.
What they’re saying
“Building something on US soil is one thing. Selling it is something else entirely.”
— Micah Toll, Author (electrek.co)
What’s next
Rad Power Bikes will need to prove that its strategy of importing components and assembling e-bikes domestically can be cost-effective and allow the company to compete against foreign-made electric bikes that dominate the market.
The takeaway
While the idea of 'American-made' e-bikes is appealing, the reality of the highly globalized e-bike supply chain makes it extremely challenging for any brand to fully manufacture e-bikes in the US. Rad Power Bikes' plan to assemble bikes domestically while relying on imported components highlights the difficulties of building a cost-effective, competitive e-bike brand in the US.
