Rivian has been moving on its plans to fill out its lineup with the recent confirmation of the R3X to be built in 2028, and now they appear to be planning even further into the future. A new trademark application from Rivian reveals that the company has formally submitted an application to secure the rights to a brand-new alphanumeric designation: R4.
While Rivian’s executive team has been busy working towards the mass production of the R2, they still need to look forward to the next steps.
The R4 Filling
The trademark filings indicate that the application for the R4 wordmark was submitted on June 10, 2026. The application is listed under the standard Class 012, which is the category reserved for land vehicles, electric automobiles, and structural components.
While the application is still in its examination stages, the submission will likely be granted to Rivian in the near future. However, a trademark application doesn’t guarantee a physical product will be produced, but it does lock in the intent.
Building a Trademark Vault
Rivian’s IP strategy has seen them create a pattern of filing trademarks well ahead of future vehicle concepts, whether they come to life or not. This prevents trademark disputes in the future.
Rivian currently maintains a vault of unused product trademarks for potential future vehicles, which it has slowly been expanding.
R1X: A potential rally/performance variant built on the full-size R1 platform.
R2S and R2T: Potential R2 naming options before the final official name. R2T is still a potential option in the future for a light compact truck built on the R2 platform.
R2X: A potential rally/performance variant built on the smaller R2 platform.
R3 and R3X: The compact hot-hatch platform intended for 2028.
The timing of the R4 filing is interesting. RJ Scaringe recently confirmed that the R3X is effectively years away, with volume production not expected to begin until roughly 2028 at Rivian’s upcoming Georgia facility. If an announced product like the R3X requires a two-to-four-year runway to reach customer driveways, the newly minted R4 is almost certainly a concept vehicle designed for 2030 and beyond.
What Could R4 Be?
Rivian’s naming scheme has so far seen vehicles get smaller as the number rises. The R1 series represents Rivian’s full-size, flagship offerings. The R2 scales this down into a competitive, mid-size SUV offering, while the R3 shrinks that even further into a compact crossover.
The R4 could represent an entry-level commuter vehicle designed for global markets where compact vehicles are much more popular than large SUVs and trucks.
