Rivian R1S electric SUV spotted in Melbourne

The Rivian R1S electric SUV has been spotted in Australia again this year – and perhaps for the first time in Melbourne – but don’t pull out your wallets just yet.

This Forest Green R1S was seen in Melbourne’s Docklands region today, kitted out in Adventure guise, judging by the inclusion of its front tow hooks.

We’ve seen both the Rivian R1T electric pickup and its R1S sister model previously in Australia, but both large American EVs remain off-limits for local customers as they’re exclusively built in left-hand drive.

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Rivian said back in 2021 that right-hand drive production and an Australian release was part of its plan. However, it’s been radio silence since then.

So far it seems the R1S is no closer to a local showroom debut though, with this particular example reportedly being filmed as a part of an upcoming US TV show, All Her Fault.

Set to be released on the streaming service in 2025, the Chicago-set novel adaptation is being filmed in Victoria, after the state government and NBC reached a deal.

Examples of both the R1T and R1S were imported here by Rivian in 2021 for testing, prior to production starting in the US.

While left-hand drive-only production has prevented their Australian public release, the R1T pickup is being modified and supplied to local mines by Australian firm MEVCO (the Mining Electric Vehicle Company). 

MEVCO will modify the Rivian R1T to be used both above and below ground in local mines, and will support mining companies that add the battery-powered pickup to their fleets with the necessary charging infrastructure.

The Rivian R1S and R1T are available in the US with the choice of dual- and quad-motor layouts, producing outputs of between 397kW/827Nm and 623kW/1231Nm, and offering driving ranges of between 410km and 660km.

MORE: How to drive a Rivian R1T electric ute in Australia