Volkswagen’s new e-bike packs rear camera, radar, and smart glasses

Volkswagen is entering the micromobility space with an e-bike that borrows heavily from automotive safety technology. The Volkswagen eBike, built under license by manufacturer n+, comes standard with a rear-mounted camera, radar-based blind-spot monitoring, a crash-detecting smart helmet, and HUD smart glasses that project critical ride data directly into the rider’s view. Two variants, the Sport and Crossover, are now available for preorder, with deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. Pricing starts at $3,999.

The standout feature is the Smart View system, a camera integrated into the rear fender that provides a wide-angle, live feed of traffic behind the rider. That feed appears on a handlebar-mounted display. Radar sensors track vehicles approaching from the rear and issue an alert when a potential hazard gets too close. While the system normally retails for $699, it is being offered at no extra cost for customers who preorder.

An optional Smart Helmet connects to the bike via Bluetooth and mirrors the bike’s LED turn signals and brake lights, making the rider’s intentions visible from behind. It also contains a built-in accelerometer that can detect a crash and automatically send an emergency text to pre-selected contacts. The helmet costs $399.

The Smart Glasses function as a head-up display, projecting speed, battery range, navigation directions, and blind-spot warnings directly into the rider’s line of sight. Volkswagen says the technology was developed by engineers who previously worked on helmet-mounted displays for military pilots. The glasses are priced at $499.

Both e-bike models are powered by a Yamaha PW-X3 mid-drive motor that delivers 250 watts and 85 newton-metres of torque, with pedal assist capped at 25 kilometres per hour. A removable 490-watt-hour battery is housed inside the downtube and offers a claimed range of up to 162 kilometres. The Sport model starts at $3,999, while the Crossover, which adds a rear cargo tray that also serves as a mount for turn-signal LEDs, is priced at $4,349. An optional range extender is available for $749.

The bikes are produced by n+, the same company behind the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1-branded e-bikes. This marks the firm’s third major automotive licensing deal, following partnerships with Mercedes and Ford. For Volkswagen, the eBike represents a strategic step beyond traditional automobiles, following earlier moves into autonomous shuttles and now micromobility. It is also the first time the automaker has put its name on a two-wheeled vehicle. Whether consumers will be willing to pay car-accessory-level prices for bicycle safety equipment remains to be seen, but the rearview camera alone solves a real and often overlooked problem that most e-bikes still fail to address.