The Rivian R1T electric pickup has been confirmed for Australia

The Mining Electric Vehicle Company (MEVCO) has announced a global partnership with Rivian Automotive to supply EVs to mining industry fleets worldwide, including in Australia.

And the first Rivian R1T electric pick-ups are already on their way to Down Under.

“MEVCO has received hundreds of vehicles from Rivian for delivery to North America and Australia,” the company told carsales.

“Rivian has more than enough capacity to meet our forecasted vehicle numbers worldwide. The first vehicles are being shipped to Australia to deliver on existing orders.

However, MEVCO has not said how many orders it has received in Australia nor how many R1Ts it plans to sell here, and Rivian has yet to begin production of the right-hand drive of its full-size electric pick-up or its SUV model, the R1S, or confirm its long-awaited entry to long time in the Australian car market.

The American EV manufacturer last month unveiled a small Rivian R2 electric SUV and small-yet R3 ahead of their North American release in 2026, but so far no Rivian products have been confirmed for RHD let alone Australian public availability.

Established in Australia, Canada and the US in 2022, MEVCO is already supplying Aussie mining companies with two Toyota HiLux-based MEVCO EVs, in 88kWh 4×4 and 60kWh 4×2 forms.

In partnership with electric fleet vehicle converter, SEA Electric, in January 2023 announced a $1 billion plan to deploy 8500. zero emission HiLux and LandCruiser vehicles for the mining sector in the next five years.

At the time, it said more than half of its 2023 car allocation had already been sold, citing demand for the HiLux and Ford Ranger’s battery-modified cars. Aussie EV startup, Roev.

Several other locally converted EV mine cars are also being developed, with Toyota continuing to develop its own. LandCruiser 70 Series EV and HiLux EV for domestic commercial vehicle customers.

But the MEVCO Rivian R1T special mine, which has been optimized by SEA to operate in surface and land mines, goes a step further than all those vehicles in size, performance and range.

The 5.5m-long R1T comes with a permanent 4×4 quad-motor system that produces 392kW/827Nm and is powered by a large 135kWh battery that offers a range of 563-656km, including up to 225km via a DC quick 20-minute charge. .

According to MEVCO, it has a towing capacity of 4990 kg, a load of 800 kg, a depth of 914 mm, a weight of 3069 kg, a gross weight of 8156 kg and a gross weight of 3870 kg.

Backed by a four-year warranty and equipped with a comprehensive safety suite, the R1T is also the only pickup in the U.S. to earn a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

MEVCO CEO Matt Cahir said his company will also support R1T buyers when it comes to infrastructure payments, maintenance and workflow.

“The Rivian R1T is well-known for its on- and off-road capabilities, and its robust design and versatility make it an ideal candidate to tackle the many challenges that mining presents,” he said.

“The combination of Rivian technology and MEVCO’s proven track record in dedicated electric mining vehicles is poised to deliver a fleet that exceeds the needs of the most demanding operators.

“The change in electrical solutions extends beyond environmental and financial benefits. It is about enhancing a safe and healthy environment for mine operators, especially in underground environments where the elimination of emissions is important. Rivian R1T, in terms of safety and off-road capabilities, it stands without comparison.

“We’ve already seen strong support for the Rivian product, along with the infrastructure that MEVCO is building to support distribution.”

Dagan Mishoulam, Rivian’s VP of Strategy, said: “Our fleet offering is best known for our commercial vehicles, so it’s great to see our R1 vehicles being included in MEVCO’s fleet. We’re excited to electrify their fleet, and we’re excited to help them reduce emissions.”