Prime Highlights
- Tesla is stumped by USPTO obstacles to trademarking “Robotaxi” and “Cybercab” before its June launch of autonomous service.
- The USPTO argues “Robotaxi” is too generic, and “Cybercab” encroaches on existing trademarks.
Key Facts
- Tesla has three months to appeal the USPTO rejection of the “Robotaxi” trademark.
- The firm will launch its autonomous service in Austin, Texas, in June 2025.
Key Background
Tesla’s long-anticipated autonomous ride-hailing service is running into branding issues just weeks before its scheduled release. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently denied Tesla’s bid to trademark the moniker “Robotaxi” because it was deemed too generic and only descriptive of similar service provided by another within its sector. Tesla has a mere three-month window of time in which to challenge the ruling with proof. Unless sustained by then, the app will be set on ice for eternity.
Its second branding effort, however, is also running into issues. Its app has landed in court due to confusion with previously registered brands, specifically including those pertaining to Tesla’s own “Cybertruck” and other firms offering cyber-branded services. These also threaten Tesla’s ability to obtain clean-cut branding for its new product.
Despite every delay, Tesla is sticking to its schedule to launch the service in June 2025, starting in Austin, Texas. The initial fleet will consist of 10–20 specially fitted Model Y vehicles with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. The rollout is a precursor to Tesla’s next success—the “Cybercab,” a steering wheel-less, one-off car that will hit production lines in 2026.
The developments come at a turning point for Tesla. The automaker is grappling with declining sales in its mass-market business, and the added pressure to make such gambles as autonomy pay dividends in the future. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has long said the future success of Tesla hinges on whether it can remain at the cutting edge of autonomous driving technology. So, resolving such brand name and legal challenges is not merely a branding exercise but a turning point in Tesla’s broader strategy of innovation and growth.
Read More: Google Gemini Boosts File Upload Size to Enhance User Experience
