Palo Alto Police Department Pilots Rivian R1S in New Fleet Program

Rivian’s vehicles are making their way into more municipal fleets, and the latest to get in on the action is the City of Palo Alto. In an exciting new pilot program, Palo Alto is teaming up with Rivian and the local police department to test out the R1S as part of their fleet. The city recently shared a photo of a custom police R1S.

This isn’t the first time Rivian’s electric SUVs have been tapped for government use. Just last year, the City of Laguna Beach—where Rivian’s South Coast Theater is located—began testing R1S SUVs as part of its Marine Safety fleet. Seeing more cities embrace Rivian’s vehicles is a huge win for sustainable law enforcement and emergency response.

Palo Alto makes a lot of sense for this kind of program. It’s already home to Rivian’s software development and engineering team, so it’s fitting that the city would be among the first to test Rivians in an official capacity. The R1S offers plenty of utility for a police department—roomy interior, all-terrain capabilities, and, of course, a quiet but powerful electric drivetrain.

With more cities looking for ways to cut emissions and modernize their fleets, Rivian’s vehicles seem like a natural fit. Whether it’s for law enforcement, emergency services, or even public works, the R1S and R1T bring plenty of versatility to the table. It’ll be interesting to see if this Palo Alto pilot expands or if other departments follow suit.

One thing is for sure—Rivian’s presence in public service is growing, and that’s a great sign for the future of sustainable city fleets.