Tesla’s plan to brand its autonomous network of taxicabs has found an interesting little snag. The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a “nonfinal office action” regarding Tesla’s application to trademark the term “Robotaxi” specifically in connection with autonomous electric vehicles.
This is an initial refusal by USPTO’s examining attorney and is very particular for autonomous electric automobiles. A separate trademark application by Tesla for the term “Robotaxi” as it relates to its upcoming autonomous ride-hailing service is still under examination and has not yet received a similar rebuttal.
Understanding the Refusal
A “nonfinal office action” means the USPTO has found potential issues with the trademark application, as stated, which prevents its immediate approval and subsequent granting to Tesla. Tesla now has a three-month period to file its counterarguments and address the USPTO's concerns.
If Tesla’s response satisfies the examiner, the trademark could be granted.
While the exact content of the office action isn’t detailed in the initial report, such refusals for terms like “Robotaxi” often occur if the USPTO considers the term “merely descriptive” or “generic” for the goods in question. In this particular context, “Robotaxi” could refer to any autonomous taxi vehicle.
Trademark law generally prevents the exclusive registration of terms that competitors would need to use to describe their own similar products. For a term to be trademarked, it typically needs to be distinctive and act as a brand identifier rather than just a descriptive name of the product’s class or type.
Separate Application for Ride-Hailing
Tesla still has a distinct, separate, and still pending application to register “Robotaxi” as a trademark for “transportation services, namely, autonomous ride-hailing services.” The criteria for trademarking a service can differ from those on trademarks for goods, and it’s possible Tesla may have more success securing the name for the service itself, which would allow them to brand the network as “Tesla Robotaxi.”
Why This Matters
Securing a trademark grants exclusive rights to use a brand name in conjunction with specific goods or services. This helps prevent customer confusion and to protect the brand identity.
If the refusal for the vehicle trademark becomes final, Tesla may be limited in its ability to exclusively name a good (specific vehicle) the “Tesla Robotaxi.” Other manufacturers could also potentially use “robotaxi” descriptively for their own autonomous taxi vehicles.
The ability to trademark “Robotaxi” for the ride-hailing service is arguably more critical for Tesla, as they’re working to establish a unique brand for their autonomous transportation network, which kicks off in Austin next month.
The USPTO’s office action won’t hinder Tesla’s ability to develop or deploy its own vehicles in June - instead, it’ll just impact how Tesla can brand the app and their vehicles, which could cause some last-minute delays if they have to rebrand.
Cybercab and Robovan/Robobus Trademarks
While Tesla is facing challenges with the broader Robotaxi term for vehicles, the company is also seeking to trademark “Cybercab,” “Robovan,” and “Robobus.” Securing a less descriptive name for the vehicle itself often has a higher chance of success with USPTO, as it is far more distinctive than a more general term like “robotaxi.”
Why Didn’t Tesla Do This Years Ago?
Tesla may have waited too long to file a trademark for the term “Robotaxi.” While the company has been discussing a self-driving fleet since 2016, the concept of autonomous taxis has gained a lot more traction in recent years — and competitors like Uber have also begun using the term.
We suspect there was some strategic timing behind these filings. Earlier versions of FSD — particularly those prior to V12 — may have lacked the progress needed to support Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions. Filing for a trademark that isn’t actively in use or about to be used can make it harder to defend or retain.
Moreover, while the idea of autonomous vehicles has been around for years, a clearer public understanding of Tesla’s specific plans has only emerged over the past 18 months. Filing too early can trigger speculation long before the company is ready to reveal details.
Ultimately, whether Tesla secures the rights to “Robotaxi” remains uncertain — but trademarks like “Cybercab” and “Robovan” seem much more likely to stick.
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With the launch of Tesla’s Robotaxi service, Tesla also introduced the new Robotaxi app. The app is currently only available to influencers who have access to the service, but it’s expected to roll out to everyone once the service is available to the general public.
Let’s have a look at all the features available in the current version of the app.
Sign In
From the moment you open the Tesla app, you’re greeted with a photo of the Model Y robotaxi. Although Tesla is using Model Ys in a variety of colors, the app theme uses the gold Cybercab color.
Similar to the Tesla app, you can sign in with your Tesla account or create a new account. Once you sign in, Tesla will automatically pull data from your Tesla account, including your profile photo and payment information.
This ends up being a really nice experience, similar to Supercharging. Whenever you reach your destination, there’s nothing to pay or do except to grab your belongings and exit the vehicle.
Search and Select Destination
Rob Maurer
Once you’re logged in, you get a map of your current location. You can see your current location on the map and the Robotaxi geofence.
Underneath, you have a search box to add a destination or filter for nearby places such as food and shopping. Tesla also includes your previously searched for destinations below that.
Before you even type anything in, Tesla lets you know the wait time for a Robotaxi at your location. Tesla also currently displays the fee even before you select a destination, as it’s currently a flat fee of $4.20. However, in the future, this will likely be displayed after you choose your destination.
Waiting For Your Ride
Sawyer Merritt / DirtyTesla
Once you’ve chosen a pickup location and destination, Tesla will show you the status of your taxi. You can track it in real-time on a map, and it’ll display a visualization of the vehicle and its ETA at your pickup location. It’ll also provide an estimate of when you’ll reach your destination.
A nice touch is that the app displays your vehicle’s color in the visualization and license plate, making it easier to find the vehicle when it arrives.
While you’re waiting, you can cancel the pickup or report an issue.
When Your Vehicle Arrives
@BLKMDL3
When your Robotaxi finally arrives, you’ll have access to some of the vehicle's controls, such as sounding the horn, flashing its lights, locking and unlocking it, and opening the trunk.
Widget
Tesla is also providing a Live Activity while you’re waiting for your ride, so that you can continue to track the vehicle even if you’re not in the Robotaxi app.
@DirtyTesla
Joe Tegtmeyer on X
Robotaxi Tips
@DirtyTesLa on X
The exterior lights pulse prompt in the app.
@DirtyTesLa on X
Tesla provides several tips in the app while you’re waiting for your vehicle. It’ll show you how to use the Model Y's handles, in case you’re not familiar with them. It’ll also remind you that the vehicle’s lights will pulse when it arrives at your pickup location, helping differentiate it from other Teslas on the road.
You can swipe left and right for additional tips.
Menu
Sawyer Merritt
Similar to the Tesla app, the Robotaxi app features a menu with similar options. It includes options we’re already familiar with, such as Security & Privacy and Payment. New to the Robotaxi app are Data Sharing, Ride History, Support, and Appearance.
Ride History: The Ride History section shows you all of your previous rides. It’ll display all of your rides broken down by date and destination. It’ll also include the fee and the time you were picked up.
If you tap into any ride, you’ll be able to see the route the Robotaxi took for that ride, as well as your pickup time, arrival at destination, distance, and fee.
On this screen, you can also report a lost item, but we have yet to see what that looks like.
Appearance: Unlike the Tesla app, which uses a dark theme throughout the app, the Robotaxi app lets you switch between light and dark modes. Unlike other apps, there isn’t an option for Auto to have it reflect what you’re using in the OS.
Sawyer Merritt
Data Sharing: The Data Sharing section includes an option to turn off device location, although Tesla requires it to be enabled to book a ride. Your location is tracked through the app even when the app isn’t running in the foreground. While Tesla said that cabin camera and microphone use would only be used when a rider agrees, they are requiring these optiosn to be turned on to actively details during the early-access period.
Support: Support currently has options to report a lost item or report a found item. While you can reach out to Tesla Robotaxi support in the vehicle, it doesn’t look like you can do it after the ride has completed.
Sawyer Merritt
Adjust Vehicle Settings
If you open the app while you’re in an active ride, you’ll be able to adjust various vehicle settings. This includes the cabin temperature, music controls, and volume.
Sawyer Merritt
Call Support or Pull Over
Similar to the controls on the rear screen of the vehicle, you can also call support or have the vehicle pull over directly from the Robotaxi app. While the safety monitor has additional controls, such as Stop in Lane, users are limited to these two buttons.
Tipping
Sawyer Merritt / DirtyTesla
At the end of your ride, you’ll need to tap Finish Ride and Tesla shows you how to exit the vehicle. You’ll also be able to open the trunk or reach out to Tesla support.
You’ll be given a chance to rate your ride and even tip the driv— car. However, Tesla has a little easter egg for anyone looking to tip, which can be seen in the video below:
The Robotaxi app is currently being offered to 20 influencers who were invited to the event through a special link. Unfortunately, it’s not yet available in the App Store. While influencers could bring one guest with them, only the invitee could download and use the Robotaxi app.
The app is currently only available for Apple devices, but it’s expected to have an Android counterpart when, or shortly after, it launches to the public.
The Robotaxi can now clean its primary pair of forward-facing cameras on the fly. This new feature was initially hinted at in the FSD V13 release notes as the “improved camera cleaning” feature, but the way it’s implemented is quite clever.
It uses a unique wiper and spray sequence that directs washer fluid squarely onto the portion of the windshield where the camera enclosure is. This effectively keeps the two most important cameras on board the Model Y clean - the ones responsible for the entire forward arc of vision. All of this is done to ensure that the vehicle’s vision remains unobstructed by dirt, bugs, or road grime during a trip.
Since the cameras are right up against the glass, the windshield portion that the cameras need to be cleaned is extremely small, just about 6 inches by 4 inches. The sequence focuses on spraying and wiping this area, repeatedly, which technically is all it needs cleaned. The rest of the windshield is just for the passengers’ benefit.
While older HW3 vehicles include three front-facing cameras, HW4 cars only utilize two. One wide-angle lens to have a wider view, and another camera that focuses on the road ahead. Due to the higher resolution of HW4, the primary camera is used for shorter and farther distances.
The small area outlined in yellow is all the vehicle needs to see properly out of its front-facing cameras.
Not a Tesla App
What About the Sides and Rear?
While the forward-facing cameras are covered, including the currently unused-for-FSD bumper camera, that leaves the majority of the other cameras exposed to the elements and unable to be easily cleaned. The side repeater cameras on the fenders, as well as the B-pillar cameras, are crucial for cross-traffic and side visibility, while the rearview camera provides rearward visibility.
While the front camera is the most important, Tesla recently explained that the updated door design on the new Model 3 and Model Y includes an extended indent for the fender cameras to create a little vortex that helps remove water from the repeater cameras. While this is helpful, it may not keep the cameras completely clear.
For a true autonomous system in varying weather conditions, keeping all cameras clean is important. A dirty repeater camera could prevent a safe lane change, and an obscured rearview camera makes autonomous parking or reversing maneuvers difficult, if not impossible.
The question is - how does Tesla plan to address these?
The Cleaning Bot
The answer likely lies outside the vehicle. Just as with human-operated vehicles, a third party will be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of these cameras. Tesla has previously demonstrated its Robotaxi cleaning robot in action on the interiors of the Cybercab, but the same robot, equipped with a multi-function manipulator arm, can likely also wash the exterior cameras.
This hub-based robot is probably the other half of Tesla’s future cleaning strategy. When a Robotaxi returns to the hub for charging, the robot could perform a full exterior sensor sweep, precisely cleaning the side, pillar, and rear camera lenses.
That’s a fairly comprehensive cleaning solution — clear the front-facing cameras on the go as they get dirty, and send the vehicle back for a more thorough cleaning if any others are obstructed.
What About Today?
Of course, as Tesla is still in the pilot stages now, that cleaning robot likely isn’t in that equation quite yet. Humans are still plugging in the Model Y Robotaxis at the end of the day to charge, and likely cleaning them as well, for the duration of the pilot stage.
As Tesla scales its fleet, these autonomous cleaning methods will become necessary, and we’ll eventually learn more about how they intend to address this in the future.
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