As the announced start of production of its autonomous vehicle “Cybercab” approaches, Tesla faces an unexpected legal obstacle. The American automaker is challenging in court the trademark registration of the name “Cybercab” by a French company, claiming it was outmaneuvered in the trademark arena.
The autonomous robotaxi project was presented in 2024 at an event called “We, Robot.” Elon Musk detailed his vision of a vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals, entirely dedicated to autonomous mobility. However, Tesla only began the formal trademark registration process in the fall of 2025, more than a year after the concept was publicly unveiled.
Meanwhile, the French company UNIBEV registered the trademark “Cybercab” in April 2024 in France, then filed a trademark application in the United States in October 2024. The American application would notably cover classes related to vehicles and transport services, which puts Tesla in a delicate legal situation.
A complaint for disputed filing and risk of confusion
In its complaint, Tesla argues that the French company claimed no one else was already using the name for similar products, even though the project had been publicly unveiled. The automaker believes this trademark application creates a risk of confusion with its product line and brand identity, which are built around the “Cyber” prefix, already used for previous models and concepts.
Tesla also claims that the head of UNIBEV follows Elon Musk on the social network X, which, according to the American group, demonstrates that he was aware of the project at the time of filing.
For its part, UNIBEV has also reportedly registered other names associated with the Tesla ecosystem, such as “Cybertaxi” and “Teslaquila,” fueling accusations of a trademark “squatting” strategy. This practice involves registering names likely to interest a major player in order to gain a legal or financial advantage.
A tight schedule before the industrial launch
Tesla plans to begin production of the Cybercab as early as April. However, intellectual property proceedings can take several months, or even longer, depending on the complexity of the case and any potential appeals.
Even if a settlement remains possible, the dispute underscores the strategic importance of trademark registrations in the technology and automotive industries. For Tesla, the issue goes beyond mere naming: it’s about securing the brand identity of a project presented as central to its autonomous mobility strategy.
