By Michael Elkins
In an exclusive report by Electrek, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has filed to extend its trademark to include electric motors "not for land vehicles," hinting that the electric vehicle giant may be looking to build electric motors for airplanes, boats, and more. In the filing, Tesla specifies that it does not currently use the trademark for those categories, but the company "intends to use" it in the future.
The filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office reads: "TESLA trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of asynchronous motors not for land vehicles; Motors for airplanes; Motors, namely, synchronous motors not for land vehicles; Permanent magnet motors; Boat motors; Drive system having two or more synchronous motors coupled through clutches to drive a common load; Electric motors for toys; Linear motors."
Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has previously considered building an electric plane, and even said previously that he has a design for an electric vertical takeoff and land (eVTOL) aircraft. However, he said that Tesla was more focused on ground vehicles for now. Or at least until battery energy density has improved enough to make them viable (at least 400 Wh/kg is needed according to Musk).
Shares of TSLA are up 4.66% in mid-day trading on Wednesday.