Latest news with #TeslaRobotaxi
TechCrunch
4 days ago
- Automotive
- TechCrunch
Tesla files new ‘Robotaxi' trademark applications after prior attempt stalls
Tesla has filed trademark applications for the term 'Tesla Robotaxi,' after the company's previous attempts to secure trademarks for its planned self-driving vehicle service hit roadblocks. The company originally applied in October 2024 for the trademark of the words 'Robotaxi' and 'Cybercab.' The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) told the company last month it needed more detail in order to allow a trademark for 'Robotaxi,' a term that is used by a number of other companies like Waymo, as TechCrunch first reported last month. The USPTO halted Tesla's application for 'Cybercab' outright due to the number of other companies trying to trademark various uses of the term 'Cyber.' Tesla submitted the three new applications for the more specific 'Tesla Robotaxi' phrase as it looks to begin testing in Austin, Texas later this month. It's looking to attain the trademarks to be used in reference to Tesla's planned autonomous ride-hailing service, the related mobile app, and the vehicles themselves. It's unlikely the applications will be reviewed in time for that test; trademark applications typically sit for months before they are assigned to an 'examiner.' Tesla also has applications pending for trademarks on the phrases 'Robobus,' 'Robus,' and 'Cyberbus,' presumably for the van-like concept vehicle it showed off last October when it revealed the Cybercab prototype. During that event, CEO Elon Musk referred to that vehicle as the 'Robovan.' But Estonian robotic delivery company Starship already owns a trademark for that term.
Miami Herald
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Uber shares hit pothole ahead of Tesla Robotaxi debut
Looks like Uber (UBER) got caught in a hit-and-run. The ride-sharing company's stock got rear-ended by investors on May 29 following a Wedbush report warning about competition from electric-vehicle maker Tesla's (TSLA) very long-awaited Robotaxi, which is tentatively set for June 12. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been promising to deliver the Robotaxi for over a decade, gave the world update on the project's status in a May 29 post on X, formerly Twitter, the social media site he bought for $44 billion. "For the past several days, Tesla has been testing self-driving Model Y cars (no one in driver's seat) on Austin public streets with no incidents," he wrote. "A month ahead of schedule. Next month, first self-delivery from factory to customer." Wedbush, which has a neutral rating and $85 price target on Uber, believes the Tesla Robotaxi serves as a long-term threat to Uber's business model, according to The Fly. While management has executed well across mobility and delivery initiatives, the firm said, the lack of fresh catalysts coupled with shares trading at a premium to peers leaves limited upside if demand softens. The report left tread marks all over Uber's stock, with shares sliding 5.8% at last check. Other investment firms had a different view of the subject. More Tesla: Analyst sets eye-popping Tesla stock price targetFund manager has shocking Elon Musk and Tesla predictionLeaked Tesla policy should infuriate Tesla loyalists BMO Capital said that Uber's underperformance in light of the announced Robotaxi launch date was expected. The firm believes shares are oversold at current levels, given Uber continues to expand internationally with the purchase of Denmark's largest taxi company, Dantaxi; continued positive trends for AV adoption in Austin; and ongoing innovation for both Mobility and Eats. BMO reiterated an Outperform rating on "Top Pick" Uber, with a price target of $101. On May 23, Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth raised the firm's price target on Uber to $110 from $103 and kept a buy rating on the shares. Uber continues to benefit from strong ridership and delivery demand, ongoing innovation, and partnerships to drive substantial growth, the analyst said. Feinseth said he believes that autonomous vehicle opportunities will be a significant long-term upside catalyst. Related: Dara Khosrowshahi's net worth: The Uber CEO's wealth & income Uber is certainly no stranger to autonomous vehicles. In September, the company announced an expansion of its partnership with Alphabet's (GOOGL) Waymo to include Austin and Atlanta. Uber has been offering rides via Waymo in Phoenix since 2023. "Obviously, Waymo has a safety track record second to none. Consumers are loving the product," Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said during the company's first-quarter earnings call in April."The team on the ground is doing a terrific job in terms of repairs and cleaning and recharging the cars, etcetera, to make sure that the Waymo's are available for rides," he said. Uber also has a partnership with Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide. On May 5, Uber said it would expand to 15 cities over the next five years, including some in Europe as well as the United States. Related: Uber price targets revamped as CEO unveils autonomous-vehicle expansion plans The announcement came five months after Uber's first collaboration with WeRide, where the companies launched a robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, Uber's first international offering. Khosrowshahi said last month that Uber would "love to work with" Musk's company, according to Business Insider, and revealed that he owns a Tesla. "Great car," Khosrowshahi said. Asked if he has tried full self-driving, Khosrowshahi responded, "It is delightful, but I have to take over every once in a while. It is an absolutely great product. Again, the car is a terrific car." Musk has been dismissive of Waymo's technology, telling analysts last month that the issue with the company's cars "is it costs way more money." "The car is very expensive, made in low volume," he said during the company's earnings call. "Teslas are probably cost 25% or 20% of what a Waymo costs and made in very high volume." However, Forbes Senior Editor Alan Ohnsman said Tesla's Robotaxi "looks like a disaster waiting to happen." "Sometimes products launch when they're ready and sometimes products launch because someone just wants to put it out," he said. "In this case there is absolutely objectively no evidence that Tesla is ready for this step." Ohnsman said Musk believes that cost is the primary target for the Robotaxi, adding that "your iPhone has a better camera than what Tesla is putting on its car and your iPhone is not driving in the street and doesn't risk killing people." "I know many experts who research autonomous vehicle tech and are very concerned about this," he said. "Trying to be very low cost out of the gate for a technology you have not yet mastered doesn't really seem like the best idea, but that's where we are with what Tesla is doing." Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Business Upturn
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Upturn
Former Billion Dollar Hedge Fund Manager Says Musk's AI Supercomputer Could Reshape America's Autonomous Future by June
BALTIMORE, May 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — What happens when a car doesn't need a driver… and a machine doesn't need a human? According to technology expert Enrique Abeyta, we're about to find out— as early as June 1st. That's when Elon Musk is expected to roll out the first phase of his Tesla Robotaxi project: a fully autonomous vehicle that will be operated by Dojo, a purpose-built AI supercomputer trained not by humans, but by machines. 'It's a fully automated car with no mirrors, no pedals and no steering wheels,' says Abeyta. 'That's not the future. That's next month.' AI That Thinks for Itself At the core of this transformation is Dojo —a neural-network training platform Musk developed after hitting limits with Nvidia's supply and pricing. 'I think this requires that we put a lot more effort on Dojo… I see a path to being competitive with Nvidia,' Musk said. Tesla's new Dojo chip is already being described as six times more powerful than Nvidia's best-selling chip—built specifically to train autonomous systems in real-world conditions. With 160 billion frames of video processed daily from Tesla's global fleet, the system continuously teaches itself how to operate in complex, unpredictable environments. 'With the latest software… Elon Musk's AI can already drive a car without any help from humans,' says Abeyta. From Self-Driving to Self-Evolving Abeyta believes this marks the first time a commercially deployed system is being shaped by a machine-only feedback loop—without human guidance, intervention, or manual input. 'This is all part of Elon's master plan to become the leader in autonomous AI… an AI that can analyze the environment and make critical decisions on its own.' And it won't stop with cars. A National Backbone for AI Autonomy As Dojo expands beyond transportation, Abeyta says its architecture could become the foundation for smart robotics, defense systems, and intelligent infrastructure . According to Morgan Stanley: 'Dojo applications longer-term can extend beyond the auto industry. It can lay the foundation for vision-based AI models.' That includes autonomous drones, medical diagnostics, surveillance platforms, and logistics networks. AI Meets Policy Enrique also notes growing alignment between Musk's vision and federal policy: 'President Trump just signed an executive order called 'Removing Barriers to American AI Innovation,' ' Abeyta explains. 'He wants to accelerate the development of AI because he understands it's a matter of national security.' Musk's primary AI partner in the Dojo project is already 'expecting to receive billions of dollars from the Trump administration.' The Closing of the Human Loop 'Machines are now learning from the world in real time,' says Abeyta. 'They're training themselves, refining themselves, and soon—acting entirely on their own.' With Dojo at the center, he believes Musk's next move isn't just about transportation… It's about creating the first fully autonomous AI infrastructure platform on American soil. About Enrique Abeyta Enrique Abeyta is a former Wall Street hedge fund manager with over two decades of experience analyzing disruptive technologies. After managing nearly $4 billion in institutional assets, Abeyta now leads Breaking Profits, a research initiative focused on AI, automation, and the autonomous systems shaping the next phase of American innovation. Media Contact:Derek WarrenPublic Relations ManagerParadigm Press Group Email: [email protected]
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Former Billion Dollar Hedge Fund Manager Says Musk's AI Supercomputer Could Reshape America's Autonomous Future by June
BALTIMORE, May 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What happens when a car doesn't need a driver… and a machine doesn't need a human? According to technology expert Enrique Abeyta, we're about to find out—as early as June 1st. That's when Elon Musk is expected to roll out the first phase of his Tesla Robotaxi project: a fully autonomous vehicle that will be operated by Dojo, a purpose-built AI supercomputer trained not by humans, but by machines. 'It's a fully automated car with no mirrors, no pedals and no steering wheels,' says Abeyta. 'That's not the future. That's next month.' AI That Thinks for Itself At the core of this transformation is Dojo—a neural-network training platform Musk developed after hitting limits with Nvidia's supply and pricing. 'I think this requires that we put a lot more effort on Dojo… I see a path to being competitive with Nvidia,' Musk said. Tesla's new Dojo chip is already being described as six times more powerful than Nvidia's best-selling chip—built specifically to train autonomous systems in real-world conditions. With 160 billion frames of video processed daily from Tesla's global fleet, the system continuously teaches itself how to operate in complex, unpredictable environments. 'With the latest software… Elon Musk's AI can already drive a car without any help from humans,' says Abeyta. From Self-Driving to Self-Evolving Abeyta believes this marks the first time a commercially deployed system is being shaped by a machine-only feedback loop—without human guidance, intervention, or manual input. 'This is all part of Elon's master plan to become the leader in autonomous AI… an AI that can analyze the environment and make critical decisions on its own.' And it won't stop with cars. A National Backbone for AI Autonomy As Dojo expands beyond transportation, Abeyta says its architecture could become the foundation for smart robotics, defense systems, and intelligent infrastructure. According to Morgan Stanley: 'Dojo applications longer-term can extend beyond the auto industry. It can lay the foundation for vision-based AI models.' That includes autonomous drones, medical diagnostics, surveillance platforms, and logistics networks. AI Meets Policy Enrique also notes growing alignment between Musk's vision and federal policy: 'President Trump just signed an executive order called 'Removing Barriers to American AI Innovation,'' Abeyta explains. 'He wants to accelerate the development of AI because he understands it's a matter of national security.' Musk's primary AI partner in the Dojo project is already 'expecting to receive billions of dollars from the Trump administration.' The Closing of the Human Loop 'Machines are now learning from the world in real time,' says Abeyta. 'They're training themselves, refining themselves, and soon—acting entirely on their own.' With Dojo at the center, he believes Musk's next move isn't just about transportation… It's about creating the first fully autonomous AI infrastructure platform on American soil. About Enrique Abeyta Enrique Abeyta is a former Wall Street hedge fund manager with over two decades of experience analyzing disruptive technologies. After managing nearly $4 billion in institutional assets, Abeyta now leads Breaking Profits, a research initiative focused on AI, automation, and the autonomous systems shaping the next phase of American innovation. Media Contact:Derek WarrenPublic Relations ManagerParadigm Press GroupEmail: dwarren@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Elon Musk rival fires back at Tesla chief's bold claims: 'They've failed utterly and completely at this'
Elon Musk's bold growth prediction for Tesla's self-driving taxi service — made public after a recent call with investors — has caught the attention of his biggest rival in the subsector, according to reports from Reuters and Electrek. Waymo founder John Krafcik challenged Musk's claim that Tesla could soon command "90-something percent" of the self-driving cab market share. "And although Tesla hopes to compete with Waymo someday, they've failed utterly and completely at this for each of the 10 years they've been talking about it," he said, per Electrek's story. Krafcick likely took issue with the wider comments Musk made, in which the Tesla CEO said it was ironic that the Google-backed company is relying less on AI than his company, as Tesla depends entirely on cameras for its driverless tech while Waymo uses a combination of camera, radar, and lidar sensors — which cost more money. "The issue with Waymo's cars is it costs way more money," Musk said. "... So, ironically, like, we're the ones to make the bet that a pure AI solution with cameras and what do you have? The car actually will listen for sirens and that kind of thing. It's the right move. And Waymo decided that an expensive sensor suite is the way to go, even though Google is very good at AI. So I'm wondering." Musk's comments follow a turbulent time for Tesla, highlighted by a first-quarter sales dip of 13% and a 71% profit plunge, as Reuters and ABC News detailed. The woes came amid Musk's leadership role with the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, under President Donald Trump. The cuts so far this year are purported to be $160 billion, mostly through a couple of hundred thousand federal layoffs and contract and lease cancellations, according to CNN and the Associated Press, which have been polarizing enough to sour some drivers from wanting to own a car from a company Musk runs. The self-driving rides, called Cybercabs, are positioned to be on roads moving "the financial needle in a significant way" by the second half of 2026, Musk said during the earnings call, per Reuters. Meanwhile, Waymo, which got its start in 2009 as a Google project, is already completing 250,000 self-driving rides weekly. The rideshare service is now available in Austin, L.A., Phoenix, and San Francisco, according to the company website. "Tesla has never competed with Waymo — they've never sold a robotaxi ride to a public rider, but they've sold a lot of cars," Krafcik said, per Electrek. Would you ride in a self-driving Tesla Robotaxi? Heck yes Probably Not anytime soon No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Self-driving cars represent the next generation of clean electric vehicles. Innovations from Tesla, Waymo, and others are encouraging as we continue to shift to more planet-friendly transportation, eliminating thousands of pounds of harmful tailpipe exhaust for each gas burner that's parked, according to government data. The fumes are linked to lung, heart, and other health risks. Safety and cost are other key factors. Musk said his EVs are far cheaper to manufacture than Waymo's, though Waymo boasts more sensors. The company buys EVs and adds the sensor array to them. Tesla makes its own at scale with a camera-based driving system, per Electrek. As for safety, last year Waymo clocked 25 million self-driven miles. An insurance claim review found that the trips had "90% fewer insurance claims relating to property damage and bodily injuries," NBC Bay Area reported. Krafcik said his company's more expensive sensors were worth it, telling Business Insider that it's a "trivial cost-per-mile impact over the useful life of a robotaxi, while also providing massive quantifiable safety benefits." Waymo intends to expand its service area to Miami and Atlanta, according to its website. And Musk deemed Tesla's artificial intelligence and chip design teams as an "incredible" advantage, as part of the optimistic investor message reported by Electrek. Skeptics will cite the Cybertruck, which The Verge and others noted isn't selling as expected, as a reason to be wary of Musk's confidence. In the end, it remains a great time to buy an EV, regardless of brand. There are still tax breaks worth up to $7,500 available in addition to the estimated $1,500 in gas/maintenance costs you can save annually. It's all part of our transition to a cleaner transportation system that can include walking, biking, and self-driving taxis as well. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Sign in to access your portfolio
