Tesla is doubling down on its efforts to secure naming rights for its upcoming self-driving ride-hailing service by filing trademark applications for the term “Tesla Robotaxi.” This move comes after previous attempts to trademark the more general terms “Robotaxi” and “Cybercab” were met with obstacles from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The USPTO raised concerns over the lack of detail in Tesla’s previous trademark requests for “Robotaxi,” a term that is already widely used by other companies such as Waymo. The agency also rejected the “Cybercab” application due to multiple competing trademark claims surrounding the word “Cyber.”
In response, Tesla is now focusing its efforts on securing the trademark for “Tesla Robotaxi,” a more specific phrase that the company hopes to use for its planned test launch in Austin, Texas later this month. The trademark applications would cover Tesla’s future autonomous ride-hailing service, the accompanying app, and the vehicles themselves.
While the approval process for trademark applications can take months to complete, Tesla is moving forward with its plans to launch the Robotaxi service on June 12, according to reports from Bloomberg.
In addition to “Tesla Robotaxi,” Tesla also has pending trademark applications for names like “Robobus,” “Robus,” and “Cyberbus,” which hint at future projects including the van-like “Robovan” prototype unveiled last October. However, the name “Robovan” is already trademarked by Starship Technologies, an Estonian robotics company.
Despite the challenges faced with trademark approvals, Tesla is forging ahead with its plans to revolutionize the transportation industry with its autonomous ride-hailing service. Stay tuned for updates on the launch of Tesla’s Robotaxi service and the future of self-driving vehicles.