Tesla’s attempt to secure the “Cybercab” trademark has been suspended by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with the blocking party identified as Unibev—an interesting twist given Tesla’s own history of pursuing a liquor-related trademark of its own.
According to a USPTO suspension notice dated November 14, 2025 and obtained by Electrek, Tesla’s application to trademark “Cybercab” cannot proceed due to two issues: a likelihood of confusion with an existing registration, and more importantly, a prior-filed application that takes legal priority.
That earlier filing belongs to Unibev, which submitted its own “Cybercab” application on October 28, 2024—roughly two weeks after Tesla publicly unveiled the name at its ‘We, Robot’ event, but before Tesla filed any paperwork in November.
Under U.S. trademark law, timing is everything. Because Unibev filed first, the USPTO is required to halt Tesla’s application until the earlier claim is resolved – either by the company following through and registering the name, or abandoning its claim.
On the surface, the Cybercab situation looks like a classic trademark squatting scenario: Unibev, known publicly as a French beverage company with U.S. trademarks for Teslaquila, has filed for the same name Tesla wants for its autonomous vehicles.
Tesla itself previously sought to trademark “Teslaquila” for distilled agave liquor after teasing the product online. While there’s no direct public evidence that Unibev’s decision to apply for Cybercab is meant as payback, the connection between both companies’ beverage-related trademarks is hard to overlook.
Tesla has already attempted to argue against the Cybercab refusals, but Electrek notes the examining attorney said that those arguments were “carefully considered” but ultimately unpersuasive. With Tesla’s application for “Robotaxi” rejected because it was deemed too generic to own and “Cybercab” now blocked, Tesla is left with limited options. It can negotiate a settlement with Unibev, attempt a costly legal challenge, or abandon the name entirely in favor of another rebrand.
Elctrek reports that discussions between Tesla and Unibev are ongoing, though no agreement has been reached. If a deal does materialize, it would likely involve Tesla paying to acquire the rights.
