Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water.
Trademark applications and registrations in Class 12 over the past 15 years.
Class 12 covers vehicles and apparatus for locomotion by land, air, or water. The class reflects the enormous commercial scope of the automotive, aerospace, marine, and personal transportation industries. The class encompasses everything from automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles to bicycles, baby strollers, shopping carts, tires, and vehicle structural components.
The class's leading filers — Merchant & Gould, Muncy Geissler Olds & Lowe, and Barnes & Thornburg — are major IP firms representing automotive manufacturers, parts suppliers, and transportation companies. The rise of electric vehicles and personal electric transportation devices (e-bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards) has generated a wave of new filings, as both established automakers and startups seek to establish brand positions in the EV market.
The critical classification boundaries in Class 12 involve Classes 7 and 9. Engines and motors for land vehicles belong in Class 12; engines and motors for other purposes (industrial, marine, stationary) belong in Class 7. Vehicle electronics — GPS navigation units, dash cameras, car audio systems — belong in Class 9, not Class 12, because they are electronic apparatus rather than vehicle components. Physical vehicle parts and accessories (tires, seats, bumpers, mirrors) remain in Class 12. Toy vehicles, model cars, and miniature trains belong in Class 28, not Class 12 — the distinction is whether the product is intended for actual transportation. Drones present a nuanced case: drones used for transport or delivery are Class 12, while camera drones used primarily for photography may implicate Class 9.
Automotive brands typically file across Classes 9, 12, 35, 36, and 37, covering in-vehicle electronics, the vehicles themselves, dealership services, financing, and repair. Bicycle and personal transportation brands pair Class 12 with Class 25 for cycling apparel and Class 28 for sporting accessories. Parts manufacturers often combine Class 12 with Class 7 for machine components and Class 6 for metal parts to cover their full product lines.
Class 12 includes mainly vehicles and apparatus for the transport of people or goods by land, air or water.
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Explore 98,893 live trademarks in Vehicles. Search by name, owner, or serial number — then filter by Class 12.
Search TrademarksPhysical vehicle parts and accessories (tires, mirrors, seats, bumpers) belong in Class 12. However, electronic accessories (GPS units, dash cameras, car stereos) belong in Class 9.
No. Toy cars, model trains, and miniature vehicles belong in Class 28 (toys and games). Class 12 covers real vehicles and vehicle parts intended for actual transportation.
Yes. Electric bicycles, electric scooters, and other electrically powered personal transportation vehicles are classified in Class 12.
No. Vehicle electronics like GPS units, dash cameras, and car stereos are classified in Class 9 as electronic apparatus. Class 12 covers physical vehicle parts and structural components, not electronics installed in vehicles.
It depends on function. Drones designed for transport or delivery belong in Class 12. Camera drones used primarily for photography or surveillance are typically Class 9. Many drone brands file in both classes.
Yes. Baby strollers, prams, shopping carts, and hand trucks are all classified in Class 12 as wheeled apparatus for locomotion, even though they are not motorized vehicles.
Electric vehicle brands typically need Class 12 (the vehicle itself), Class 9 (onboard electronics, charging software, apps), Class 37 (vehicle repair and maintenance services), and Class 36 (vehicle financing). Many also add Class 42 for autonomous driving software development.
Engines and motors specifically for land vehicles belong in Class 12. Engines and motors for all other purposes — industrial, marine, stationary — belong in Class 7. The intended use determines the classification.
No. Paint protection films and vehicle wraps are classified in Class 17 (plastic films and sheets) or Class 2 (coatings). Class 12 covers structural vehicle parts and accessories like bumpers, tires, and mirrors — not surface treatments.