Rivian has built a Ghostbusters-themed R1S called the Ecto-R1 with Sony Pictures. The vehicle is a physical promotional build inspired by the film franchise’s Ecto-1, not a new R1S trim that customers can order. It is being used alongside Rivian’s 2026 Halloween software campaign, which gives owners a temporary set of themed sounds, lighting effects, menus and games.
The Ecto-R1 is based on the R1S
Top Gear’s photographs show the Ecto-R1 as a white R1S with red graphics, Ghostbusters branding and a roof rack carrying equipment designed to resemble the gear on the original movie car. The front and sides retain the basic shape and lighting signature of the production SUV. The roof carries lamps, tanks, hoses and other props, while white-and-silver 22-inch wheels complete the visual reference to the Ecto-1.
Rivian has not published a separate technical specification sheet for the Ecto-R1. There is no official statement that its battery pack, motors, suspension, brakes or charging hardware differ from the R1S used as the donor vehicle. The safest description is therefore a decorated display R1S rather than a performance or mechanical derivative.
That distinction matters. A themed photograph can suggest a new edition, but Rivian’s customer-facing material does not list Ecto-R1 as a purchasable configuration. The company has also not announced a price, production volume or conversion package for R1S owners. The physical vehicles are part of the campaign and are scheduled to appear at selected Rivian spaces in the United States.
What owners actually receive
The software update is the part of the promotion that reaches ordinary Rivian vehicles. Rivian says it worked with Sony Pictures to bring the Ghostbusters universe to its vehicles for Halloween 2026. The update adds a dedicated in-car Ghostbusters app with themed menus, sounds and lighting effects. On the touchscreen, the “Mallow Mash” mini-game lets occupants catch Mini-Puft characters before the timer runs out.
Another feature is called “Trick or Treat”. When the vehicle is stationary and the relevant mode is activated, the Rivian can play Ghostbusters effects and trigger a matching light show. Rivian also describes a motion mode that reacts when somebody comes close to the vehicle. These are entertainment features, not driver-assistance functions, and they do not turn the R1S or R1T into an emergency vehicle.
Rivian lists software version 2026.36.0 for the R1 family and 2026.36.40 for R2 in its instructions for the Halloween experience. Owners must update both the vehicle software and the Rivian mobile app. Rivian says Halloween Mode is live from 9 October through 2 November 2026. After that date, the seasonal experience is expected to be removed, so it should not be treated as a permanent vehicle setting.
The promotion also illustrates a difference between a software feature and a physical conversion. The app can be distributed over the air to an existing fleet. The Ecto-R1, by contrast, requires a wrapped vehicle, branded props, display preparation and a controlled public setting. Rivian is not saying that every owner will receive the roof equipment shown in the images.
Where the display vehicles appear
Rivian says full-size Ecto-R1 builds will appear at several of its retail spaces and community events. The locations announced by the company include Laguna Beach, Austin, Venice, Miami Brickell, San Francisco and the Meatpacking District in New York City. The schedule is seasonal and can change, so visitors need to check Rivian’s own event page before travelling.
The New York presence connects the project to the city associated with the original Ghostbusters story. The Ecto-1 reference is visual and cultural: the modern SUV uses a white body, red markings and roof-mounted equipment to recall the 1984 Cadillac Miller-Meteor-based movie car. The Rivian is a very different vehicle underneath, with battery-electric propulsion and software that can coordinate its screens, exterior lights and speakers.
Sony Pictures’ participation is also confirmed by Rivian, rather than being an assumption based only on the logos in the photographs. The companies’ cooperation covers the Ghostbusters-themed campaign and the licensed creative elements. Neither company has announced a retail licensing programme that would let customers buy an official Ecto-R1 conversion for any R1S.
What this means outside the United States
The campaign is primarily aimed at the US market. Rivian does not currently operate a normal official sales and service network for the R1S in Romania. An individually imported vehicle would raise separate questions about registration, charging support, parts supply, warranty coverage and regional software availability.
There are also legal limits to copying the appearance of a movie car. A wrap and roof rack are not automatically illegal, but exterior lamps, sirens, colours and accessories may be regulated differently from decorative bodywork. Owners would need to check local vehicle rules before fitting equipment that could be mistaken for emergency lighting or warning devices.
For now, the Ecto-R1 is best understood as two connected projects: a small number of physical R1S display builds and a time-limited software experience for Rivian owners. The campaign does not announce a new production model, a new battery specification or a commercial Ecto-R1 kit. It does show how a manufacturer can extend a film partnership from a static livery into the vehicle’s user interface, speakers and exterior lighting without changing the underlying SUV.
