Rivian has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government seeking to recover millions of dollars in tariff payments made under the “Liberation Day” tariffs that were later ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to TechCrunch.
Automaker Seeks Tariff Refunds
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, names the U.S. government, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott as defendants.
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Rivian is asking the court to declare the tariffs unlawful, order a full refund of the payments with interest, and require the government to cover its legal expenses.
According to the filing, the company argues that businesses which paid tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are not automatically guaranteed refunds despite the Supreme Court’s decision invalidating the measures.
Refund Process Remains Uncertain
The lawsuit follows continued uncertainty surrounding the repayment process for companies affected by the tariffs.
During the company’s April earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough said Rivian could recover “tens of millions of dollars” if the tariff payments are refunded.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than $121 billion in potential and certified tariff refunds have been accepted for processing. However, reports indicate that approximately $70 billion has been repaid so far, leaving many claims unresolved.
Legal Action Targets Repayment
Rivian contends that a separate legal ruling is necessary to ensure reimbursement, arguing that the Supreme Court’s decision alone does not provide certainty that companies will receive the money already paid.
Production of R2 SUV Continues
The legal action comes as Rivian continues ramping production of its new R2 sport utility vehicle.
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The company expects to deliver between 20,000 and 25,000 R2 vehicles before the end of the year. Earlier this year, Rivian temporarily paused some customer deliveries after identifying a paint quality issue affecting certain vehicles.
