Tesla’s new baby is snatched by a French group!
- Published on 06/01/2026 16:01
- Modified on 06/01/2026 16:05
Tesla encounters a serious and amusing setback in its ambitious strategy regarding future robotaxis.
According to information revealed by Electrek on January 5, 2026, the application to register the trademark “Cybercab” has been officially suspended by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in favor of… a French beverage company, Unibev!
The document, dated November 14, 2025, shows that Tesla’s name registration procedure is blocked due to a risk of confusion with an already registered trademark. It notes the existence of a prior application filed by Unibev.
The timeline is relentless and not without irony. On October 10, 2024, Elon Musk grandly unveiled the name “Cybercab” at the “We, Robot” event. On October 28, 2024, Unibev filed the trademark in the United States in the automotive category. Tesla, on the other hand, only submitted its application in November 2024, thereby giving legal priority to a third party. In U.S. trademark law, the first applicant prevails, regardless of fame or even sector of activity.
A Recidivism That Raises Questions
Indeed, do not look for any logical reason behind Unibev’s actions, a French company specializing in alcoholic beverages, which has absolutely no obvious link to the automobile. The case thus presents all the characteristics of classic trademark squatting: a company quickly reacts to a public announcement to secure a name before its initiator. Do not think this is the first time, as Unibev already holds the trademark “Teslaquila” in the United States, a name that Tesla had unsuccessfully tried to exploit for its own tequila.
Tesla has indeed attempted to contest the decision, but the USPTO examiner states that the arguments were “carefully reviewed” without being deemed convincing. After the rejection of the term “Robotaxi,” deemed too generic as it is widely used by Waymo, Uber, and most manufacturers, including Tesla with its autonomous Model Y vehicles, the Californian brand finds itself in a deadlock.
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According to Electrek, negotiations are underway between Tesla and Unibev. Failing a financial agreement, Tesla may be forced to abandon the name Cybercab, but it must still find another available name. Let’s just hope that Tesla, embarrassed and confused, swore—though a bit late—that it would not be caught off guard again…
READ ALSO: The Tesla Cybercab Seems Ready to Hire!
This page is translated from the original post "Tesla se fait piquer son nouveau bébé par un groupe français !" in French.
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