On June 5, 2020, Ford Motor Company filed a US trademark application for EVERGLADES. Ford filed the EVERGLADES trademark application on an intent to use basis. This means Ford has a bona fide intent to use the mark in commerce. The mark is designated for use with “Motor vehicles, namely, automobiles, pick-up trucks, electric vehicles, sport utility vehicles, off-road vehicles, and their structural parts.” Thus, Ford intends to sell an electric vehicle in connection with the EVERGLADES mark. At the very least, Ford had a bona fide intent to use the EVERGLADES mark as of June 5, 2020.
The average pendency of a trademark application is 9.6 months. However, Ford filed the application on an intent to use basis, which means it will need to show use during examination. Ford will have an opportunity to prove that it is using the EVERGLADES mark around the end of 2020. The deadline for proving use will run into 2021 and can be extended three years. Alternatively, Ford could simply abandon the mark.
It seems unlikely that Ford will be selling a vehicle under the EVERGLADES mark anytime soon given the immense effort necessary to create a new vehicle. However, three years seems like a reasonable amount of time given that Ford is an automobile juggernaut. Hopefully, Ford will reveal its plans within the next few months. Maybe the EVERGLADES vehicle will come from Ford’s investment with Rivian. That would be an exciting collaboration! Regardless of what happens we know that Ford at least had a bona fide intent to sell electric vehicles under the EVERGLADES name.
