(Bloomberg) — Peloton Interactive Inc., restarting an expansion beyond its signature exercise bikes, is bringing back the lower-end version of its treadmill, though a pricier model linked to a child’s death remains on hold.
The $2,495 Tread product will go on sale in the U.S., U.K. and Canada on Aug. 30 and in Germany later this year, the New York-based company said Tuesday. The treadmill’s previous rollout, which began in the U.K. at the end of last year, was halted in May because of a problem with its touch screen detaching and falling on users. Shares rose 4.2% as trading got underway in New York.
It isn’t clear yet when the higher-end Tread+, priced at $4,295, may come back. That product was recalled at the same time in May after children were injured by jumping on the machine and accidentally starting a workout. More than 70 incidents were reported, including the death of one child.
The Tread model didn’t pose the same risks, but there were at least 18 incidents of its touch screen loosening and six reports of it falling off, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. That led to minor injuries, such as abrasions, cuts and bruises, in Canada and the U.K., the agency said. There were no reports of anyone being harmed in the U.S.
Peloton only sold about 1,050 of the Treads in the U.S., with more of them going to international customers. The company previously started a repair program for Treads that were already sold, and it’s bolstering the product’s safety features.
“We’ll always continue to innovate our hardware, software and safety features to live up to our commitment to member safety and to improving the full member experience,” John Foley, Peloton’s chief executive officer and co-founder, said in a statement.
The Tread models — including ones that were already sold — are receiving a software update that adds a feature called Tread Lock. The mechanism requires users to punch in a four-digit code to begin workouts. The feature was initially exclusive to users who paid for Peloton’s monthly subscription service, but the company expanded it to all users after criticism. The Tread also has a physical key that can prevent unintended use.
Peloton didn’t give an update Tuesday on when sales of the Tread+ may resume, but the company may provide more details when it reports quarterly results on Thursday. In May, Peloton said it anticipated a $165 million revenue decline from the combined recalls. Tread+ customers were offered a full refund if they returned the product by Nov. 6, 2022.
Read more about the recall’s impact on Peloton’s business
The treadmills have accounted for a small portion of Peloton’s revenue, but they’re seen as a key source of growth. Before the recalls, Peloton executives touted how the Tread beat sales expectations in the U.K., saying the machine could eventually be a “rocket ship” and that the treadmill opportunity is potentially larger than bikes.
Filings from the safety commission show that about 125,000 Tread+ models have been sold to date. That suggests the company brought in more than $500 million from the product. In total, treadmills accounted for an estimated 10% of Peloton’s revenue.
In addition to its bikes and treadmills, Peloton is working on new devices such as rowing machines and a new wearable gadget for tracking heart rates.
(Updates shares in second paragraph)
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