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Rivian trademark filings hint at possible crossover, sedan in the works
Rivian has released many development and marketing details surrounding its coming all-electric R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV over the last few months, but recently published US trademark applications hint that the Michigan-based startup has a crossover, sedan, and second generation vehicles already in the works.
Several Rivian-owned US trademark applications were recently published for opposition at the end of March, meaning the applications are pending a waiting period for objections to be filed before they become officially registered. The 1S and 1T names already associated with Rivian were included in the batch, but several others not currently tied to a revealed product were as well: 1C, 1A, 2C, 2A, 2S, 2T, and 2R.
Rivian’s current naming scheme using single letters to denote its vehicle types – ‘T’ for truck, ‘S’ for SUV – indicate that its application for the trademark ‘1C’ could correspond to a “crossover,” and the ‘2’ included in some of the new marks could hint at the next generation of its flagship vehicles. However, the remaining ‘A’ and ‘R’ designations are not as easy to guess.
Initial entry into the luxury vehicle market for car manufacturers is a tried and true strategy for new companies and new vehicle lines, and the popularity of larger utilitarian cars in the US altogether explain Rivian’s first focus on pricey SUVs and trucks. But it’s likely that the all-electric startup will expand into the sedan market shortly after either manufacturing or deliveries begin, which is probably where the ‘A’ and ‘R’ designations in Rivian’s trademarks are intended to be used.
Audi might have the biggest hint for interpreting Rivian’s intentions – its ‘A’ and ‘R’ monikers are attached to its sedans and sportbacks, respectively. The company’s ascending numerical designations (A3, A4, etc.) correlate to performance enhancements (higher the better), but Rivian’s intentions could go another direction.
One of Rivian’s primary competitors, the Ford F-150, uses catchy names like ‘Raptor’, ‘King Ranch’, and ‘Platinum’ to designate its variations rather than letters. The names aren’t simply tied to increasing performance enhancements but rather their intended use. Rivian could adopt a correlation like Ford’s and use its numbering system to indicate whether the vehicle had a city or outdoor adventure focus, for example.
Rivian’s intentions for its upcoming all-electric R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV have been a fun source of speculation within its new and growing enthusiast community. Several graphic renderings imagining its modular capabilities were published by the team running RivianForums, inspired by the company’s patent application for such a system. Other visions of aftermarket off-road additions have also been published for community enjoyment.
The excitement for its vehicles has been duly noted and encouraged by Rivian as well. The company will appear at this month’s New York International Auto Show and has scheduled a special showing for reservation holders a few days prior to the event at a local car club. Attendees will enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a greeting by the company’s CEO and founder, RJ Scaringe, all while being treated to an in-person look at Rivian’s current vehicles, both of which boast up to 400 miles per charge, high-powered quad motors, and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3 seconds.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s xAI wins permit for power plant supporting AI data centers
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
Mississippi regulators have approved a permit allowing Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI to construct a natural gas power plant in Southaven. The facility is expected to support the company’s expanding AI infrastructure tied to its Colossus data center operations near Memphis.
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
According to the report, regulators “voted to approve the permit” of xAI subsidiary MZX Tech LLC to construct a power plant featuring 41 natural gas-burning turbines “after careful consideration of all public comments and community concerns.”
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality stated that the permit followed a regulatory review process that included public comments and community input. Jaricus Whitlock, air division chief for the MDEQ, stated that the project met all applicable environmental standards.
“The proposed PSD permit in front of the board today not only meets all state and federal permitting regulations, but goes above and beyond what is required by law. MDEQ and the EPA agree that not a single person around our facilities will be exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution,” Whitlock stated.
The planned facility will help provide electricity for xAI’s AI computing infrastructure in the Memphis region.
The Southaven project forms part of xAI’s efforts to scale computing capacity for its artificial intelligence systems.
The company currently operates two major data centers in Memphis, known as Colossus 1 and Colossus 2, which provide computing power for xAI’s Grok AI models. xAI is also planning to build another large data center in Southaven called Macrohardrr, which would be located in a warehouse previously used by GXO Logistics.
Large-scale AI training requires substantial computing power and electricity, prompting technology companies to develop dedicated energy infrastructure for their data centers.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell previously stated that xAI plans to develop 1.2 gigawatts of power capacity for its Memphis-area AI supercomputer site as part of the federal government’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge. The commitment was announced during an event with United States President Donald Trump.
“As part of today’s commitment, we will take extensive additional steps to continue to reduce the costs of electricity for our neighbors. xAI will therefore commit to develop 1.2 GW of power as our supercomputer’s primary power source. That will be for every additional data center as well. We will expand what is already the largest global Megapack power installation in the world,” Shotwell said.
“The installation will provide enough backup power to power the city of Memphis, and more than sufficient energy to power the town of Southaven, Mississippi where the data center resides. We will build new substations and invest in electrical infrastructure to provide stability to the area’s grid.”
Elon Musk
Tesla China teases Optimus robot’s human-looking next-gen hands
The image was shared by Tesla AI’s account on Weibo and later reposted by Tesla community members on X.
A new teaser shared by Tesla’s China team appears to show a pair of unusually human-like hands for Optimus.
The image was shared by Tesla AI’s account on Weibo and later reposted by Tesla community members on X.
As could be seen in the teaser image, the new version of Optimus’ hands features proportions and finger structures that look strikingly similar to those of a human hand. Their appearance suggests that they might have dexterity approaching that of a human hand.
If the image reflects a new generation of Optimus’ hands, it could indicate Tesla is continuing to refine one of the most critical components of its humanoid robot.
Hands are widely viewed as one of the most difficult engineering challenges in robotics. For Optimus to perform complex real-world work, from manufacturing tasks to household activities, its hands would need to be the best in the industry.
Elon Musk has repeatedly described Optimus as Tesla’s most important long-term product. In posts on social media platform X, Musk has stated that Optimus could eventually become the first real-world Von Neumann machine.
In theory, a Von Neumann machine is a self-replicating system capable of building copies of itself using available materials. The concept was originally proposed by mathematician John von Neumann in the mid-20th century.
“Optimus will be the first Von Neumann machine, capable of building civilization by itself on any viable planet,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
If Optimus is expected to carry out complex work autonomously in the future, high levels of dexterity will likely be essential. This makes the development of advanced robotic hands a key step towards Musk’s long-term expectations for the product.
News
Tesla Cybercab ramps Robotaxi public street testing as vehicle enters mass production queue
Recent sightings on public roads and growing fleet activity at Giga Texas signal Tesla’s accelerating push toward the Cybercab’s commercial launch.
Tesla Cybercab is being spotted with increasing frequency both on public roads and across the grounds of Gigafactory Texas, suggesting that the company’s road testing and validation program is ramping meaningfully ahead of mass production.
A total of 25 Cybercab units were recently observed across three separate locations at Giga Texas by drone observer Joe Tegtmeyer — with 14 metallic gold units parked in a tight formation outside the factory exit, nine more at the crash testing facility undergoing structural and safety validations, and two additional units at the west end-of-line area for final checks.
The activity on public roads is just as telling. The Cybercab was spotted testing on public roads for the first time last October, near Tesla’s Engineering Headquarters in Los Altos, California, marking a significant development in the vehicle’s progression toward commercial readiness. As expected at that early stage, a safety driver was present in the seat.
Since then, sightings have only become more frequent. Community observers on X have posted fresh footage of Cybercabs navigating public streets in Silicon Valley, with each new clip adding to a growing body of evidence that Tesla’s validation efforts are well underway. The production backdrop supports the momentum. Tesla’s production line at Giga Texas moved into a higher volume early in March, representing what observers are calling the largest single-day grouping of Cybercabs seen to date.
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- Tesla Cybercab spotted in San Jose, CA testing on public roads with Robotaxi validation equipment [Credit: Nic Cruz Patane via X]
![Tesla Cybercab spotted testing on public roads in Los Gatos, CA - March 10, 2026 [Credit: Osmad Sarood via X]](https://www.teslarati.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/tesla-cybercab-public-road-testing-823x1024.jpg)
Tesla Cybercab spotted testing on public roads in Los Gatos, CA – March 10, 2026 [Credit: Osman Sarood via X]
Tesla ramps Cybercab test manufacturing ahead of mass production
Musk has also stated that Tesla is aiming for at least 2 million Cybercab units per year across more than one factory, with a potential ceiling of 4 million annually.
With testing activity on public roads accelerating and factory output visibly increasing week over week, the coming months at Giga Texas are set to be pivotal in determining how quickly Tesla can bring the Cybercab from validation to volume.
Elon Musk’s xAI wins permit for power plant supporting AI data centers
Tesla China teases Optimus robot’s human-looking next-gen hands
