Tesla is not backing down in its efforts to claim ownership of the “Cybercab” trademark, filing a formal challenge with U.S. regulators against French beverage company UNIBEV, whose earlier filing has blocked Tesla’s application.
According to newly filed documents submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Trademark Trial and Appeal Board obtained by Electrek, Tesla has filed a detailed opposition against UNIBEV, accusing the company of fraud, bad faith filings, and attempting to capitalize on Tesla’s growing portfolio of “Cyber”-branded products.
The dispute arises from a complicated trademark timeline that has been unfolding for months. Tesla publicly revealed the Cybercab during its “We, Robot” event in October 2024. However, UNIBEV had already filed for the name in France earlier in 2024 and later submitted a U.S. application on October 28, 2024—before Tesla filed its own paperwork in November.
Under trademark law, earlier filings often carry significant legal weight, which previously resulted in Tesla’s application being suspended while the competing claim remained active.
Tesla Alleges Fraud and Trademark Squatting
In its February 18, 2026 opposition filing, Tesla outlines five separate legal arguments challenging UNIBEV’s claim to the name.
Tesla alleges the beverage company falsely told the USPTO that no other companies were using similar “Cybercab” branding for related products. The automaker argues that claim could not have been accurate given the extensive publicity surrounding the Cybercab reveal two weeks earlier.
The company also questions whether UNIBEV ever had legitimate plans to produce vehicles or transportation services covered under the trademark classes it applied for. Tesla says the filing fits a common trademark squatting strategy—registering high-profile product names outside a company’s core business in hopes of later negotiating a payout.
Tesla’s filing also points to connections suggesting awareness of the automaker’s branding, noting UNIBEV’s principal follows Elon Musk and other Musk family accounts, along with SpaceX, on social media.
Not the First Time
The Cybercab dispute is not the first between the two companies. UNIBEV already controls trademarks tied to “Teslaquila,” and has also filed applications connected to other Tesla-adjacent names including “Cyberquad” and “Cybertaxi.”
Tesla argues these filings demonstrate a broader pattern targeting its expanding CYBER-branded vehicle lineup, in particular the already registered Cybertruck trademark.
While the legal battle continues, Tesla is not slowing down development of the Cybercab, producing its first unit at Giga Texas just last week. Elon Musk has reiterated several times that volume production will begin April 2026, and also confirmed last week the company aims to deliver a sub-$30,000 Cybercab without a steering wheel or pedals to regular customers this year.
