Rivian has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government in an attempt to reclaim a 'full refund' of tariffs it paid under President Trump’s controversial ‘Liberation Day’ taxes, which the Supreme Court later ruled unconstitutional.

The automaker's action comes as it prepares for the release of its first mass-market SUV, the R2, with expectations of 20,000 to 25,000 units being shipped this year. However, profitability might not be reached until 2028 due to ongoing investments in autonomous vehicle development.

CBP collected the tariffs on behalf of the Trump administration and has processed over $121 billion in potential and certified refunds, but Rivian is seeking a guarantee that it will receive its money. The company's lawyers stated that importers like them are not guaranteed a refund based solely on the Supreme Court’s decision.

At the time of the tariffs' imposition, CEO RJ Scaringe expected costs to rise 'a couple of thousand dollars' per vehicle, but by 2025 had managed to mitigate this impact to 'low hundreds of dollars.' In a regulatory filing, Rivian highlighted the harm that retaliatory trade practices could cause in obtaining necessary raw materials and selling products at competitive prices.

Rivian is asking the trade court to declare the tariffs ‘contrary to law,’ issue a refund with interest, and pay any associated court fees.