Camilla Jessen
Elon Musk’s branding slip costs Tesla dearly.
Tesla has lost the rights to the name Cybercab after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office blocked its application in January 2026.
According to Electrek and Carscoops, the decision leaves the electric carmaker without legal control over the name of its autonomous taxi project.
The problem stems from timing. Tesla unveiled the Cybercab concept in October 2024, but did not secure the trademark beforehand.
That delay opened the door for a rival claim.
French company moves first
Just 18 days after Tesla’s high-profile reveal, French company Unibev filed its own trademark application for the name Cybercab in the vehicle category. Tesla only submitted its application in November, giving Unibev a clear legal advantage.
The U.S. trademark office later suspended Tesla’s filing, citing the risk of confusion with an existing claim. According to reports, this has effectively forced Tesla into negotiations if it wants to keep using the name.
Unibev is no stranger to such disputes.
A familiar opponent
The French firm has previously clashed with Tesla over naming rights, including a dispute involving the term “Teslaquila.” That case ended with Tesla renaming its product “Tesla Tequila.”
Because of that history, industry observers quoted by Carscoops suggest Unibev is well aware of Tesla’s sensitivity to branding and may be seeking a significant payout.
The cost to buy the Cybercab name outright could run into millions, according to analysts.
Rebranding risk
If Tesla refuses to pay, the alternative would be a full rebrand of the vehicle. That would mean abandoning a name already heavily used in marketing, design work and promotional material.
Such a move would likely write off large investments in logos, advertising and product positioning. Electrek described the situation as one of Tesla’s most expensive administrative errors.
The case has also renewed debate around trademark strategy in the auto industry.
Tesla is not alone in facing naming disputes. Boosted has previously reported on Audi winning a branding fight with Chinese carmaker Nio, while BMW has challenged BYD over alleged misuse of a key model name.
Sources: Electrek, Carscoops, USPTO, Boosted
