Overview

• The US Patent and Trademark Office denied Tesla’s bid to trademark 'Robotaxi,' citing its generic use to describe autonomous passenger vehicles.
• Tesla has six months to appeal the decision, while a related service mark application for 'Robotaxi' remains unresolved.
• The trademark application for 'Cybercab,' another Tesla term, has been suspended due to potential confusion with similar filings.
• Tesla plans to roll out a limited Robotaxi pilot in Austin, Texas, in late June, deploying 10–20 retrofitted Model Y vehicles with its camera-only autonomous driving system.
• Experts remain skeptical of Tesla’s reliance on cameras instead of lidar technology, contrasting with Waymo's established fleet of over 1,500 lidar-equipped robotaxis.