Rivian Automotive, the EV startup, has filed trademark application for six new model names on the same day it announced the closing of a $2.5 billion funding round led by Amazon, Ford, and T. Rowe Price. The marks cover models R3T, R3S, R4T, R4S, R5T, and R5S, in the same style as the company's R1T pickup and R1T SUV that are set to launch this year. It previously registered R2T and R2S.
Rivian recently delayed the first deliveries the R1 models from summer to fall, according to Fox Business. This was due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage. However, Reuters reported this week that it has started looking for a site to build a second factory that it's prepared to commit $5 billion toward.
The automaker's plant is in Normal, Illinois, while a location near Mesa, Arizona, is under construction for the new one, according to the report.
Rivian is also in talks with the UK government on building its first manufacturing plant outside the U.S. near Bristol. The investment would include a large state-support package, but the UK faces competition from Germany and the Netherlands for the site, Sky according to Automotive News Europe.
Talks with the British government are at an early stage, though investment could be worth over $1.4 billion.
According to the article, Rivian is seen as a potential rival to Tesla. It expects to begin first deliveries of its R1T pickup in September and its R1S SUV in the autumn.
