Tesla’s ambitious plans to launch its autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin this June have hit a regulatory snag as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected its application for the “Robotaxi” trademark and halted progress on its “Cybercab” trademark.
The USPTO issued what’s known as a “nonfinal office action” on Tuesday, refusing Tesla’s application to trademark “Robotaxi” for its vehicles on the grounds that the term is “too generic” and is “used to describe similar goods and services by other companies.” Tesla now has three months to file a response before the application is abandoned.
The electric vehicle maker applied for both trademarks in October 2024, coinciding with the unveiling of the Cybercab, a purpose-built, steering wheel-less two-passenger vehicle designed for autonomous ride-hailing. While the USPTO found no conflicting trademarks for “Robotaxi,” it determined the term was “merely descriptive” of the service being offered.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s application for the “Cybercab” trademark has been suspended as the patent office reviews similar applications from other companies using the “Cyber” prefix, including those producing aftermarket accessories for the Tesla Cybertruck.
A second “Robotaxi” trademark application, covering the use of the term for transportation services including “coordinating travel arrangements” and “arranging time-based ridesharing services,” remains under examination by the USPTO after being assigned to an examiner on April 14.
These roadblocks come at a critical time for Tesla, which has doubled down on its commitment to launch autonomous ride-hailing in Austin by June. CEO Elon Musk told investors during a January earnings call that “Teslas will be in the wild with no one in them in Austin in June,” showing unprecedented confidence in the company’s Full Self-Driving technology.
Texas provides a favorable regulatory environment for Tesla’s autonomous ambitions, as the state takes a hands-off approach to regulating driverless vehicles. Under Texas law, autonomous vehicle companies have free access to public streets as long as their vehicles are registered, insured, and equipped with technology to record crash data.
The initial launch is expected to use a small fleet of specially equipped Tesla vehicles rather than the yet-to-be-produced Cybercab, which is slated for volume production in 2026. Some experts, including former Waymo CEO John Krafcik, have expressed skepticism about Tesla’s approach, suggesting the service might be limited to a geo-fenced area with teleoperation support.
Despite the trademark setbacks, Tesla appears undeterred in its plans to launch its autonomous service in June, potentially marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-promised vision for self-driving technology. Musk has described self-driving car services as “critical to the company’s future,” and the Austin launch represents Tesla’s first real-world test of unsupervised autonomous driving as a commercial service.
Tesla has not publicly responded to the USPTO’s decision, and a trademark lawyer representing the company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Tesla’s trademark applications are just the latest hurdle for a company that has repeatedly faced skepticism about its ambitious timelines for autonomous driving technology. The Cybercab represents a significant strategic shift, as the company now appears to be following an approach more similar to competitors like Waymo and Cruise, deploying purpose-built autonomous vehicles in limited areas rather than enabling all Tesla vehicles to function as robotaxis through software updates.