Tesla wants to register generic 'robotaxi' word as its own trademark

SAN JOSE: Tesla is seeking to secure the generic industry phrases "Robotaxi" and "Robobus" as its own exclusive brand names, according to new applications to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

In recent years, the term robotaxi has come to be used to a shorthand for any kind of self-driving car that transports people, such as Waymo's autonomous taxis, which are increasingly common in the US.

Tesla's applications were submitted last week as company boss Elon Musk unveiled Tesla's concept for a self-driving taxi and a self-driving bus for up to 20 people.

The trademark applications were first reported on by the electromobility news website Electrek. Musk himself called the vehicles "Cybercab" and "Robovan" several times during the presentation, however there is currently no application for "Cybercab" 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.

Musk said Tesla's self-driving robotaxi would go into production in 2026 and would be available for private purchase at a price below US$30,000.

At the same time, he himself admitted that he tends to be too optimistic when it comes to deadlines. Investors were disappointed by the lack of concrete details about the plans, causing Tesla shares to fall by around 9% after the event.

At the same time, industry observers continue to doubt whether Tesla can achieve reliable autonomous driving with cameras alone.

Competitors such as Google's sister company Waymo also use more expensive technology such as laser radars that scan the vehicle's surroundings.

Waymo already operates a driverless robotaxi service in four US cities and makes more than 100,000 journeys with passengers per week.

Musk also demonstrated the latest version of the humanoid robot "Optimus" in Los Angeles, claiming that robots would be the most important product of all, as everyone will want to have mechanical helpers.

After the 20-minute car presentation, the robots could be seen performing as bartenders and dancers.

However, Bloomberg has been among media companies to since report that some of the robots were remote-controlled by humans.