Tesla has submitted new trademark applications for the term “Tesla Robotaxi,” following earlier challenges in registering trademarks for its upcoming autonomous vehicle service. Back in October 2024, the company had initially sought to trademark “Robotaxi” and “Cybercab.” However, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) responded last month that the term “Robotaxi”—commonly used by other companies such as Waymo—required further clarification. Meanwhile, the application for “Cybercab” was outright rejected due to multiple competing claims over uses of the word “Cyber.”
To overcome these issues, Tesla has now filed three new applications specifically for “Tesla Robotaxi” as it prepares to start trials in Austin, Texas, later this month. The company aims to use the trademark for its upcoming autonomous ride-hailing service, its associated mobile application, and the self-driving vehicles themselves.
However, it’s unlikely the trademarks will be processed before testing begins, as such applications often take months before an examiner reviews them.
Tesla also has other trademark requests pending for terms like “Robobus,” “Robus,” and “Cyberbus,” likely linked to a van-style concept it introduced in October alongside the Cybercab prototype. During that unveiling, CEO Elon Musk described the vehicle as the “Robovan”—a term already trademarked by Estonian robotics company Starship.
