Maggie Lu services a Peloton Tread+ treadmill during CES 2018 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 11, 2018.
Ethan Miller | Getty Perceptions
Peloton said Thursday it would release a rear safety guard for its Tread+ treadmill, working with the U.S. Consumer Outcome Safety Commission.
The stock closed nearly 3% higher on Thursday.
The Tread+ treadmill has been at the heart of safeness concerns surrounding Peloton in recent years. Sales for the treadmill have been halted since a young young gentleman died under a Tread+ treadmill in 2021.
Since the recall, there have been 279 more reported dos and 61 reports of injuries, Peloton and CPSC said in a joint statement.
The safety guard will be offered free of charge to people who own a Tread+ treadmill, the company said in a release.
Customers can register in advance to receive the guard. It is in addition being manufactured and is expected to be available in the fall.
Following the 2021 recall, Peloton told Tread+ treadmill possessors to stop using the product.
The new guard has a breakaway design that moves away from the treadmill when it executions an object, which turns off power and decelerates the belt. It aims to eliminate the potential for entrapment near the treadmill’s bottom, which is primarily what caused incidents in the past.
“As a brand dedicated to empowering Members on their fitness expedition, Peloton remains committed to ensuring they have access to our world-class fitness experiences in the safest way possible,” the house said.
In addition to the Tread+ treadmill’s woes, other safety concerns have plagued Peloton in recent years.
Among the mounting concerns, the company changed its stance on recalls in recent weeks.
Last week, when the CPSC recalled 2.2 million Peloton bikes upon safety concerns, Peloton cooperated, saying it was “important to proactively engage the CPSC to address this issue and to operate swiftly and cooperatively to identify a remedy.”
A part defect on model number PL01 bikes led to 12 reported injuries, counting one wrist fracture, according to an internal Peloton memo.
Previously, the company was slow to cooperate with officials and expressed difference over potential flaws. Peloton said it took action, despite the relatively small number of affected bikes, because it was a “member-first assemblage,” according to the internal memo.
Earlier this month, the company posted a wider-than-expected loss for its fiscal third abode while forecasting its first-ever decline in subscribers.