Tern Folding eBikes

Tern takes its name from the Arctic tern, a bird that migrates farther than almost anything else alive — and does it in lifelong partnership with its mate. Founded in 2011 by Florence Shen and Joshua Hon, the company set out to solve a genuine problem: how to fit a real bike, and eventually a real cargo bike, into a small apartment and a busy commute.

Their engineering philosophy borrows from In-N-Out Burger: do fewer things, and do them exceptionally well. That focus is what turned a folding-bike company into the brand that invented the “compact utility” e-bike category with the GSD — and why every Tern is built and tested to the same standard, whether it's hauling two kids to school or folding into a hallway closet.

Tern's mission, in their own words: “help create communities that are livable, inclusive, and sustainable by making cycling open to all.” As they put it, “bikes won't solve everything, but they're a pretty great place to start.”