Tesla has filed new trademark applications for the terms “Cybercar” and “Cybervehicle,” as the U.S. electric vehicle maker prepares alternative branding options for its upcoming autonomous vehicle amid ongoing legal and regulatory challenges.
The filings come as Tesla works through complications surrounding its original plan to brand the vehicle as “Cybercab,” a name unveiled alongside the company’s robotaxi ambitions. That trademark application has been suspended by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, according to public records.
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The suspension stems from an earlier trademark filing for “Cybercab” by Unibev, a French beverage company, which submitted its application before Tesla. Under U.S. trademark law, priority is generally granted to the first applicant, leaving Tesla’s claim on hold until the issue is resolved.
Tesla has also faced setbacks with other naming efforts. Its attempt to trademark the term “Robotaxi” was rejected on the grounds that the phrase is too generic to qualify for exclusive protection, further narrowing the company’s branding options.
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As a result, Tesla has moved to secure additional alternatives, bringing the number of potential names for its autonomous vehicle to four. The newly filed “Cybercar” and “Cybervehicle” trademarks offer flexibility as the company navigates trademark disputes, regulatory approvals and regional naming restrictions. In some U.S. states, for example, the use of terms such as “cab” or “taxi” is restricted.
Chief Executive Elon Musk alluded to the need for backup naming strategies during Tesla’s fourth-quarter earnings call last month, saying branding could ultimately depend on regulatory and trademark outcomes.
See also: Tesla Introduces Cleaning Fees for Robotaxi Riders as Autonomous Service Expands
Despite the naming uncertainty, Tesla is pressing ahead with development of its purpose-built autonomous vehicle. The company has said production of the robotaxi is scheduled to begin in less than two months, underscoring its intent to move forward even as branding details remain unresolved.
Source: DriveTesla
