Is Rad Power Bikes Shutting Down? 2026 Bankruptcy and New Ownership Update

Last Updated on October 3, 2026 by Kristina

Update – October 3, 2026: Rad Life Mobility now offers a Battery Upgrade Program for eligible Rad owners. Depending on the exact bike model and whether a compatible Safe Shield battery is available, eligible customers may receive up to 50% off a newer Safe Shield battery. This is an upgrade discount program, not a free replacement program for batteries covered by the CPSC warning. More details are included below.

Update – September 16, 2026: Rad Power Bikes did not disappear after its former owner entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Rad Power Bikes brand and key operating assets were acquired in a court-approved sale that closed on February 27, 2026, and the brand is now operating under new ownership through Rad Life Mobility.

If you own a Rad bike, the biggest issues to understand now are legacy warranty coverage and a CPSC safety warning covering three specific older battery model numbers. I explain both below, along with what the ownership change means for current and prospective Rad riders.

You can also follow recent Electric Bike Explorer news coverage and use the e-bike troubleshooting and maintenance guide if you are dealing with a repair or ownership issue.

Current Status: Rad Power Bikes Is Still Operating Under New Ownership

Rad Power Bikes Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 15, 2025. That filing followed months of financial uncertainty and an earlier WARN notice about possible layoffs and closure.

The situation changed in early 2026. According to SEC filings from the new owner, key Rad Power Bikes assets were acquired through a court-approved Section 363 sale that closed on February 27, 2026 for approximately $14.9 million. The acquired assets included the Rad brand and intellectual property, inventory, operating infrastructure, and digital systems.

Rad Power Bikes later announced that Life Electric Vehicles Holdings, Inc. completed the acquisition and would continue retail operations under the Rad Power Bikes brand. Rad Life Mobility now operates the customer-facing Rad business.

That means the most accurate answer to the question “Is Rad Power Bikes shutting down?” is now no, not as a brand. The former company went through Chapter 11 and sold key assets, but the Rad Power Bikes name, products, retail operations, and customer support continue under a new company.

What Happened to the Old Rad Power Bikes Company?

The bankruptcy involved the former Rad Power Bikes Inc. business. After the asset sale, Rad’s current warranty page states that the former company became known as New Summit Collective, Inc.

The important distinction for riders is that Rad Life Mobility is a new company that acquired selected assets. It is not simply the old Rad Power Bikes business continuing unchanged. SEC filings from Rad Life Mobility specifically describe the company as newly formed and say it assumed only certain liabilities identified in the transaction documents.

This distinction is especially important when it comes to older warranties.

What the Bankruptcy Means for Rad Power Bikes Warranties

Rad’s current Limited Warranty Terms say the new warranty is issued by Rad Life Mobility and applies to qualifying Rad Power Bikes-branded products purchased in the United States or Canada after May 15, 2026.

For Rad-branded products purchased before December 15, 2025, the current warranty page says Rad Life Mobility has no obligation to provide warranty or other service for those products. It directs claims tied to those earlier purchases to the bankruptcy process.

There is less clarity in the public warranty language for purchases made during the transition period between December 15, 2025 and May 15, 2026. SEC filings say Rad Life Mobility assumed certain warranty liabilities, but the public warranty page does not clearly explain every purchase made during that window.

If your Rad bike was purchased during that transition period, I would contact current Rad customer support with your order number, serial number, and purchase date before assuming that a specific warranty claim is or is not covered.

CPSC Battery Warning: Check These Three Model Numbers

Separate from the bankruptcy, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a product safety warning on November 24, 2025 involving certain Rad Power Bikes lithium-ion batteries.

The CPSC warning identifies these battery model numbers:

• RP-1304
• RAD-S1304Y
• HL-RP-S1304

CPSC reported 31 fires, including 12 involving property damage. Some incidents reportedly occurred while the bike was not charging or being used. The agency tells consumers with one of the affected battery model numbers to remove the battery from the bike, stop using it, and follow local hazardous-waste disposal procedures. It also says not to sell or give away an affected battery.

This is important terminology: the November 2025 action is a CPSC safety warning, not an agreed voluntary recall. CPSC says the former Rad company declined to agree to what the agency considered an acceptable recall and indicated that its financial situation prevented it from offering replacements or refunds to all affected consumers.

The former Rad Power Bikes company publicly disputed CPSC’s characterization of the batteries as defective or unsafe and said third-party testing supported its position. Because CPSC’s current warning remains public, I would follow the agency’s stop-use guidance if your battery label matches one of the three listed model numbers.

Rad Life Mobility Battery Upgrade Program for Current Owners

Rad Life Mobility now offers a Battery Upgrade Program for eligible customers. Under the current terms, eligible owners may receive a one-time discount of up to 50% off one full-priced Safe Shield battery.

Eligibility depends on the exact Rad bike model and whether Rad currently offers a compatible Safe Shield battery for that bike. Rad specifically notes that batteries are not universally interchangeable and that some older models may not be compatible with the newer battery options.

Rad says eligible customers may receive a discount code by email. Shipping is additional. The current U.S. terms list $49 shipping for discounted batteries in the contiguous United States, while customers in Alaska and Hawaii are directed to contact support for shipping details.

It is important not to confuse this with a free replacement program for the batteries named in the CPSC warning. The program is an upgrade and discount offer from Rad Life Mobility. The CPSC warning covering RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y, and HL-RP-S1304 remains separate, and CPSC continues to tell owners of those affected batteries to remove them from the bike and stop using them.

If you are trying to replace an older Rad battery, contact Rad Life Mobility customer support with your exact bike model and the model number printed on your battery. Ask them to confirm whether your bike is eligible for the Battery Upgrade Program, which Safe Shield battery is compatible, and what replacement options are currently available before ordering.

Which Rad Bikes Were Sold With the Affected Batteries?

CPSC says the affected battery models were sold with several Rad bikes and also as replacement batteries. The listed bike models include:

• RadWagon 4
• RadCity HS 4
• RadRover High Step 5
• RadCity Step Thru 3
• RadRover Step Thru 1
• RadRunner 2
• RadRunner 1
• RadRunner Plus
• RadExpand 5

Do not rely only on the bike model name. The safest approach is to look at the label on the battery itself and compare the model number with the three numbers in the CPSC warning.

What Current Rad Owners Should Do

If you already own a Rad e-bike, the ownership change does not automatically mean you need to stop riding it. What you should do depends on your battery, purchase date, and service needs.

• Check your battery label. If it is RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y, or HL-RP-S1304, follow the current CPSC stop-use guidance.
• Ask about the Battery Upgrade Program. Contact Rad Life Mobility with your exact bike model and battery model number to confirm eligibility, compatibility, the available Safe Shield replacement option, and current shipping costs.
• Save your purchase records. Keep your receipt, order confirmation, serial number, warranty documents, and any prior service correspondence.
• Confirm warranty status using your exact purchase date. The rules differ depending on whether the bike was purchased before the bankruptcy, during the transition period, or under the new Rad Life Mobility warranty.
• Use current Rad support for current service questions. Rad’s present website lists customer support, live chat, phone, text, and retail support options.
• Do not assume every replacement part is universally compatible. Confirm compatibility using the exact Rad model and model year before ordering electrical parts, batteries, displays, controllers, or chargers.

If you need help deciding whether a local shop can work on your bike, see my guide to having an e-bike repaired or serviced by a local bike shop.

Should You Buy a New Rad Power Bike in 2026?

The answer is different now than it was when this article was first published. The original concern was that Rad might disappear entirely. That did not happen.

The brand is operating under new ownership, customer support is active, and Rad Life Mobility has published a new warranty for qualifying purchases made after May 15, 2026. That removes some of the uncertainty that existed during the bankruptcy.

I would still check the current warranty terms, return policy, parts availability, and exact battery system before buying. If you are shopping used, pay special attention to the battery model number and the original purchase date because those details can materially affect safety guidance and warranty options.

What Changed From the Original Shutdown Story?

The November 2025 version of this article focused on a WARN notice and the possibility that Rad could close. A December update added the Chapter 11 filing. Those were accurate concerns at the time, but the story has now moved beyond speculation.

• Rad Power Bikes Inc. filed Chapter 11 on December 15, 2025.
• A court-approved asset sale closed February 27, 2026.
• Life EV acquired the Rad Power Bikes brand and key operating assets.
• Rad Life Mobility now operates the customer-facing Rad business.
• Legacy warranty obligations are not the same as warranties on qualifying new purchases.
• The CPSC battery warning remains important for owners of the three specifically named battery models.

📰 How This Story Was Verified

This report is based on available official documents, agency statements, meeting records, court filings, or other primary sources, with reliable reporting used for additional context. I clearly distinguish proposals from rules that have been finally approved or taken effect.

My Take

The biggest change is that Rad riders no longer have to guess whether the brand will simply vanish. The brand survived through an asset sale, but that does not erase the bankruptcy or make every old obligation carry over to the new company.

For existing owners, I think the practical priorities are straightforward: identify your battery model, keep your documentation, verify warranty coverage based on the purchase date, and use current support channels when you need parts or service.

The CPSC battery warning deserves particular attention. Whatever the disagreement between the former company and the agency, owners can check an objective detail – the model number printed on the battery – and act on the current federal safety guidance.

Sources

• SEC filing describing the February 27, 2026 Rad Power Bikes asset acquisition
• Life EV announcement confirming completion of the Rad Power Bikes asset acquisition
• Current Rad Power Bikes Limited Warranty Terms and prior ownership warranty information
• Rad Life Mobility Terms of Purchase and Battery Upgrade Program details
• CPSC November 24, 2025 Rad Power Bikes battery safety warning
• Former Rad Power Bikes response to the CPSC safety warning