The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has indicated that a French beverage company holds priority rights to the Cybercab name,the same entity previously linked to the TESLAQUILA trademark.
Tesla may be facing an unexpected branding hurdle after the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) suspended the automaker’s application for the “Cybercab” name, citing a prior filing by a company called Unibev.
According to the USPTO, Unibev, a French beverage company, holds a pending priority application for the Cybercab trademark, placing Tesla’s filing on hold. The development raises the possibility that Tesla could be forced to negotiate for the rights to the name or abandon it altogether ahead of the planned launch of its autonomous taxi.
Tesla showcased the Cybercab during its “We, Robot” event in October 2024, positioning the vehicle as a cornerstone of its autonomous future. However, the company appears to have overlooked trademark clearance ahead of the reveal, opening the door to what resembles a classic trademark squatting scenario.
Electrek reports that the USPTO issued a suspension notice for Tesla’s Cybercab filing after determining that Unibev’s application predates Tesla’s. Given Unibev’s core business in beverages, the filing suggests the Cybercab name may not have originally been intended for an autonomous vehicle platform.
The trademark filing is publicly searchable through the USPTO’s online database by entering “Cybercab.”
The situation is particularly notable given Unibev’s prior history with Tesla-related branding. The same company holds the TESLAQUILA trademark, a name Tesla once explored for an alcoholic beverage. Viewed together, the Cybercab filing appears less coincidental and more strategic.
This pattern suggests Unibev may be actively monitoring Tesla’s branding announcements and moving quickly to file trademarks ahead of the automaker’s own applications, especially when there is a lag between product reveals and formal filings.
One likely motivation is financial leverage. By holding priority rights to the Cybercab name, Unibev could seek a payout from Tesla in exchange for the trademark, an approach consistent with trademark squatting practices.
Time may not be on Tesla’s side. The company has indicated plans to begin producing the Cybercab, under that name or another, as early as April this year, making swift resolution of the trademark dispute increasingly important.
Compounding the issue, Tesla has yet to receive regulatory approval for its fully autonomous system. Recent sightings of two Cybercab prototypes in Austin, Texas showed the vehicles operating with a steering wheel and a human driver behind the wheel.
Tesla has stated that the Cybercab is ultimately intended to be built without a steering wheel or pedals, reinforcing its vision of a fully autonomous, two-seat robotaxi.
Whether Tesla opts to negotiate with Unibev for the Cybercab trademark or pivot to a new name remains uncertain. Still, retaining the “Cyber” branding would be consistent with Tesla’s broader naming strategy.
The Cybertruck already anchors that identity within the company’s vehicle lineup, while the theme has extended beyond cars to products such as the Cyberquad for Kids electric ride-on toy.
