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New images show at least 12 examples of the Rivian R1T sitting in a Perth auction yard, giving potential buyers their first look at electric utes set to be sold from the remains of a defunct start-up.
Electric Cars
The first images of 12 Rivian R1T electric utes that will be auctioned off in Australia – imported by failed start-up MEVCO – have surfaced online.
Five of the R1Ts, visible in the background of images uploaded to the Grays Auctions online platform, are painted green.
One has a bull bar with side steps, two have bull bars with no side steps, and two have no bull bars. Another green vehicle, possibly another R1T, is barely visible at the end of the row.
Three of the Rivian R1Ts have no visible modifications and are in Rivian’s base silver colour, suggesting the vehicles could be unmodified. Two of the white R1Ts also lack any visible modifications.
The other two white R1Ts are fitted with bull bars and show some discolouration on their paintwork, possibly caused by exposure to the red dirt of Western Australia’s outback.
The Rivian vehicles have made their way to the auction yard after the business that imported them, MEVCO – a start-up that aimed to supply the electric utes to Australian mining operations – went into administration.
The R1Ts are left-hand drive, which means there would be no simple way for them to be registered for personal use.
Fortescue, one of Australia’s major mining companies, told Drive in November that they had trialled the R1Ts, but ultimately found them unsuitable for their operations.
Mine sites are known to be a strenuous environment for vehicles, so the condition of the individual R1Ts going up for auction could vary significantly, depending on whether they saw active use on a mine site.
Documents filed as part of MEVCO entering administration listed Rivian R1T “parts” amongst its assets. At least some of these have made their way to the Grays Auctions yard, with images showing what looks to be the frame of an R1T sitting among the vehicles.
Two Toyota HiLux utes sit amongst the Rivians, sporting MEVCO's green colour.
MEVCO's Rivian R1Ts are based on the dual-motor, second-generation variant of the ute, currently priced from $US77,990 ($AU121,000) in the United States.
Four other, non-specified, Rivian models were also listed among Rivian's assets in documents filed as part of the administration process. It remains unclear what these vehicles are, or if they will also eventually be listed for auction.
Grays' State Operations Manager for Western Australia, Michael Fernandes, told Drive in November that the auction house was “working closely with the administrator and completing our legal and compliance due diligence” to prepare the R1Ts for sale.
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Max is the News Publishing Coordinator for Drive. He enjoys creating engaging digital content, including videos, podcasts, interactive maps, and graphs. Prior to Drive, he studied at Monash University and gained experience working for various publications. He grew up playing Burnout 3: Takedown on the PS2 and was disappointed when real life car races didn’t have the same physics.
