Tesla To Patent Generic 'Robotaxi' Word As Its Own Trademark

According to reports, Tesla has submitted applications for the brand names "Robotaxi" and "Robobus" to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). These applications cover both automobiles and transportation services. 

The term "robotaxi," which has become widely used to describe autonomous vehicles that transport people, was filed for patent by Elon Musk in connection with the demonstration of a robotaxi model and a concept for a self-driving bus that has the capacity to carry up to 20 passengers. 

Throughout the presentation, Musk referred to the cars as "Cybercab" and "Robovan" multiple times. Nevertheless, "Cybercab" does not currently have an application in the USPTO database.

Meanwhile, the name "Robovan" was already secured in 2019 by Starship Technologies, a company that develops delivery robots that drive on pavements, according to dpa news.

Last week, Elon Musk revealed the much-anticipated robotaxi during Tesla’s latest event, "We, Robot," that was held at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California. This comes six months after Elon Musk announced that the company planned to launch one.
However, industry observers are sceptical about Tesla's ability to achieve dependable autonomous driving using just cameras in light of the self-driving robotaxi that is scheduled to go into production in 2026.