Tesla Robotaxi Trademark Battle and What It Means for the Future

Tesla is once again pushing forward with its vision of self-driving transportation. After running into legal obstacles with more generic names, the company has now filed trademark applications for the term “Tesla Robotaxi.” This move follows earlier attempts to trademark the names “Robotaxi” and “Cybercab,” which faced resistance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office due to their widespread use by other companies.

Tesla’s latest applications are more specific, aiming to secure rights to the phrase “Tesla Robotaxi” in connection with its upcoming autonomous ride-hailing service, mobile application, and the vehicles involved. Testing for this new service is expected to begin later this month in Austin, Texas. However, the review process for trademark approval could take several months, so it is unlikely the applications will be processed before testing starts.

In addition to “Tesla Robotaxi,” the company is also pursuing trademarks for names like “Robobus,” “Robus,” and “Cyberbus.” These may be tied to Tesla’s van-like concept vehicle introduced during a presentation last October. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk called it the “Robovan” during the reveal of the Cybercab.