Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Mercedes-Benz has just submitted five new patent applications to the USPTO as it dives headfirst into Web3. Mercedes-Benz enters the Web3 market.
In these applications, he expresses an interest in releasing various virtual goods for the Metaverse, producing collectibles in NFT format, and providing financial services using cryptocurrencies. Mercedes-Benz, therefore, joins the other automakers that have chosen to stake their future on Web3 in order to change how they engage with customers this year.
Mercedes-Benz enters the Web3 market
The trademark applications sent by Mercedes-Benz to the United States Patent and Trademark Office expose its interest in delving into the crypto industry’s trademark applications. The car company wants to explore new ways to interact with its consumers, increase its utility and take its business model into the virtual world. Mercedes-Benz has plans to launch NFT-based digital crypto collectibles.
Mercedes Benz partnered with Polygon Network in the middle of this year to create a new platform for sharing and managing data based on blockchain technology. The platform is called Acentrink and is designed to make it easy for users to trade data, such as insurance and clinical trials. The German car manufacturer has also launched its first collection of NFT tokens in collaboration with the artist collective ART2PEOPLE.
Other car brands on the Web3
Like Mercedes, other car brands such as Renault, Ford and Lamborghini have also been seduced by the enormous potential offered by the crypto world and Web3. Although the crypto industry was created to cover needs in the financial world, other sectors have found great opportunities in it, driving its growth and adoption.
Renault
Renault has been one of the last car brands to debut on Web3. The company of French origin created a new name, R3NLT, to operate in this new decentralized world. Renault commemorated 50 years of its R5 cars with a crypto collection of 1,972 NFTs, representing each of the models of the car, Electric, Turbo, Le Car Van and TL.
Meanwhile, Renault’s South Korean subsidiary partnered with The Sandbox in September. The goal is to create new connections with your consumers and get closer to users familiar with the virtual world. The company also wants to offer new ways for customers and users to experience cars within the Metaverse, The Sandbox reported.
Ford
Ford also wants to get into Web3 and has submitted a series of applications to the USPTO outlining its plans to create new virtual products and services. Patents filed by Ford with the US federal agency included its Bronco, F-150, Explorer, Maverik, Raptor, Ford Ranger, Mustang, Expedition, Lincoln, Transit and Lightning brands. Kondoudis said Ford has filed 19 metaverse-focused trademark applications and is claiming plans to create virtual cars, trucks, vans and clothing in NFTs. In addition to opening online stores to trade their non-fungible tokens.
Lamborghini
Lamborghini jumped into the world of non-fungible tokens in January of this year with the release of its first collection of NFTs. The collection consisted of five photographs of a Lamborghini Ultimae, captured by Swiss artist Fabian Oefner. In the middle of this year, the Italian Lamborghini also included NFT tokens in its new certification strategies, to ensure greater trust for its consumers and users.
In August, Lamborghini partnered with projects NFT PRO and INVNT to reinvent its crypto collectibles. The company reported that it would release new NFTs in a series of monthly four-piece collections over four days. Lamborghini’s idea with the monthly NFT token releases is to capture the interest of users and offer new features and utilities to its consumers.
Porsche
Porsche also announced the launch of its first NFT collection, inspired by a white Porsche 911, in November of this year. The vice president of the German company, Lutz Meschke, stressed that its first NFTs will be part of its digitization strategy. The company is considering the potential of new technologies to boost its users’ shopping experience in the metaverse, immersing its customers in immersive journeys and experiences. Porsche also plans to optimize its supply chain with the inclusion of blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens. The NFTs are crafted by 3D digital artist Patrick Vogel and will be available through a waiting list next January. In total, Porsche will release 7,500 unique digital collectibles on NFTs.
BMW
Like the other car brands, the luxury car manufacturer BMW is also interested in the Web3 world. Kondoudis reported in late November that the company had filed a trademark application to register its logo for the Metaverse. BMW is also interested in creating NFT-authenticated media, virtual vehicles, and clothing and footwear for avatars. In addition, the company wants to open retail stores for virtual vehicles in the metaverse, create new digital environments, and much more.
Hispano Suiza Cars
Hispano Suiza, the Spanish racing and luxury car company, has also arrived on Web3. Last year it reported that it would auction 12 examples of its exclusive Carmen hyper sports car as NFT tokens. Hispano Suiza partnered with the company Trillion Distributed Ledger to auction the NFTs of its iconic car on the non-fungible token platform Trillion Collection.
Given the interest of car companies in Web3, NVIDIA anticipates that 2023 will be the year that manufacturers and cars begin to fully drive toward this new technological frontier. The digital industry and Web3 are marking a new stage for car companies in the world, creating new experiences and business models in the digital environment.