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News - General News - ManufacturingRocky patch for mine-spec electric ute sectorAusEV says Ford Lightning supply secure as Rivian importer MEVCO enters liquidation4 Nov 2025 THIS month’s ‘indefinite’ pause on production of Ford’s battery electric F-150 Lightning ute in the United States will not impact Brisbane-based importer and right-hand-drive remanufacturer AusEV, which has told GoAuto it planned for gaps in supply.
Meanwhile, Perth-based electric vehicle provider to the resources sector, MEVCO Mining Australia, has gone into liquidation, with little known about the future of the company that had been importing US-made Rivian R1T electric utes and upfitting them to mine spec without RHD conversions.
Former MEVCO director of global accounts Nick Clift and former MEVCO chief technical officer Ryan Stimpson recently made the move to AusEV, which launched mine-specific versions of the F-150 Lightning earlier this year.
Production of F-150 Lightnings will enter an open-ended hiatus from November 15 at Ford's Rouge Electric Vehicle Centre in Dearborn, Michigan.
However, AusEV chief executive Edward Kocwa told GoAuto: “These pauses happen from time to time in any large-scale vehicle program, and we’ve planned for that.
“AusEV maintains strong inventory levels specifically to ensure uninterrupted supply for our fleet customers and our delivery and deployment schedules remain on track.”
Mr Kocwa’s confidence in his supply chain appears to be underlined by the appointment of former MEVCO executives.
“We’ve further strengthened our team with Nick Clift and Ryan Stimpson, who both bring deep industry and technical experience as we continue expanding across the mining and energy sectors,” he said.
An Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) notice outlines that MEVCO held a meeting of members on 10 September 2025, before it was resolved that it would be “wound up” with liquidator Shaun Boyle appointed.
GoAuto has made attempts to contact MEVCO representatives, including the company’s founder and chief executive, Matt Cahir, as well as parent company Resource Capital Funds, and the liquidator, with no responses received at the time of writing.
While the company’s Australian arm is in liquidation, it is not yet known whether its US and Canada operations will remain, nor is it clear as to whether locally supplied vehicles will be supported.
Last year, the company announced a global partnership with Rivian Automotive, customising and supplying left-hand drive R1T models to the Australian mining industry, to bolster its existing range of Toyota HiLux-based electric vehicles.
The HiLux-based models were converted to electric using technology from SEA Electric, the North American branch of which merged with Canadian company Exro Technologies in April 2024 while its Australian companies SEA Electric Pty Ltd and SEA Electric Holdings Pty Ltd entered voluntary administration earlier this year.
Exro announced in February 2025 that SEA Electric founder Tony Fairweather had resigned from its board, having joined upon the completion of the merger less than a year prior.
GoAuto will share further details, should MEVCO or RCF provide a response.  Read more27th of October 2025  F-150 Lightning production paused indefinitelyFord hits pause on F-150 Lightning production citing slow sales, parts sourcing issues14th of April 2025  Remanufactured F-150 Lightning targets minersBrisbane-based AUSEV claims HiLux-competitive TCO for RHD mine-spec Ford F-150 Lightning26th of April 2024  All systems go for MEVCO and RivianRivian R1T moves from trial to operation for mining industry use through EV company, MEVCO |
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