Tesla's New Trademarks Hint at Robotaxi Plans
New trademarks filed by Tesla Inc. (TSLA) offer clues about the company's plans for a 20-person vehicle unveiled in October 2024. The trademarks, "Robus" and "Robous," suggest that Tesla may combine the words "robot" and "bus" to create the new name for the vehicle.
These trademarks cover various potential uses, including electric buses and ridesharing services. They also mention peer-to-peer vehicle sharing, time-based ridesharing services, and temporary vehicle use.
The unveiling of the Robovan, or whatever name it will ultimately be given, was a surprise for guests at the October event. It could be part of a larger "Robus" brand that encompasses all of Tesla's robotaxi vehicles, including the robotaxi/cybercar and the robovan/robobus.
If Tesla successfully tests and gains approval for its self-driving vehicles, the launch of the Robus ridesharing service could pose a significant challenge to Uber and Lyft.
It's important to note that trademark filings don't guarantee that the names will be used or that the products will be launched. However, these filings offer valuable insights into Tesla's future plans for its robotaxi program.