USA rejects Tesla‑brand "Robotaxi": too generic for trademark protecti

Can Tesla really secure the term Robotaxi? No – says the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and rejects the application for trademark protection. For Tesla's planned Robotaxi business around Model Y fleets in Austin and the future Cybercab, this is a setback that, for now, only affects the US market.

Why the "Robotaxi" trademark was rejected

"Robotaxi" is considered descriptive

The USPTO classifies Robotaxi as a purely descriptive generic term for autonomous taxis. Since media, startups, and competitors have long used the term, the necessary distinctiveness for exclusive trademark protection is lacking.

Tesla gets a three-month deadline

The rejection was issued as a so-called "non-final office action." Tesla can submit extensive evidence by early August – such as marketing materials or user manuals – to show that the term is clearly associated with Tesla in practice.

Impact on Tesla's Robotaxi plans

Brand strategy: Without a registered trademark, Tesla must keep its branding for the US Robotaxi fleet flexible.
Cybercab & Robobus: The applications for Cybercab and Robobus are still pending; there is a threat of competition from other "Cyber" entries.
Launch in Austin: The purely informative pilot operation announced for June in Texas is not directly affected by the trademark issue.

Relevance for European customers

For Germany, everything remains the same:

Informative significance: Trademark decisions in the USA do not directly affect our local vehicles.
Name choice in the EU: Should Tesla also seek its own Robotaxi brand here, the company would have to file separate EU applications.

Outlook

Tesla can still convince the USPTO – or resort to alternative designations. Whether Robotaxi will ultimately become a protected Tesla‑brand will be decided at the earliest in the fall. Until then, the term remains generic, and we are eagerly watching how Tesla continues to expand its autonomous mobility ecosystem.