Nissan, the Japanese motor giant, has been making significant strides in the NFT and Web3 space, and is doubling down on its Web3 innovation efforts. In fact, the company has filed four new Web3-related trademarks in the United States, covering its Infiniti, Nismo, and Nissan brands.
The filings reveal that Nissan has ambitious plans to create a virtual marketplace, complete with virtual clothing, cars, headgear, trading cards, toys, tickets, and an NFT marketplace for trading and minting NFTs. Additionally, the company is planning to offer metaverse advertising services and other “entertainment services,” including online video, images, artwork, tickets, audio, sounds, music, and trading cards.
Nissan is also experimenting with auto sales in the metaverse through its virtual store, Nissan Hype Lab. Customers can visit the virtual storefront via a PC or smartphone, create customized avatars, and interact with virtual sales staff. They can even order and finalize purchase contracts through this virtual sales office. According to Nissan, the trial will run from March 8 to June 30, during which time the company will study, consult, test drive, and purchase Nissan vehicles in the metaverse to examine the possibility of new sales methods for cars.
Nissan has been exploring Web3 and smart contract technology for some time now. In October 2022, the company filed five trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, revealing its plans to enter the NFT, Web3, and Metaverse space. These applications covered prominent car models such as SKYLINE, Z, and GTR, and introduced offerings such as NFT-backed media, online NFT marketplaces, digital wallets, and NFT minting, trading, and storing software. The patents also introduced the idea of downloadable media files for NFT authentication, an online NFT marketplace for buying and selling NFTs, and non-downloadable software for minting, storing, and trading NFTs.
It’s clear that Nissan is going all in on its Web3 developments, and other automotive giants are following suit. General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and MG have all made significant moves in the NFT and Web3 space. GM Motors recently announced its interest in creating downloadable digital media files that contain collectible artwork, text, audio, and video, which will be authenticated as nonfungible tokens, according to the company’s trademark filing. Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company filed 19 trademark applications covering its major car brands such as Mustang, Bronco, Lincoln, Explorer, and F-150 Lightning, among others. The applications include virtual cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and clothing for the company’s brands, as well as a proposed online marketplace for NFTs.
Despite the ongoing crypto winter and bear market, multinational corporations are still pushing forward with trademark applications covering Web3, crypto, NFTs, and the metaverse. Nissan’s innovations in the Web3 and NFT space are a testament to the company’s commitment to exploring new technologies and finding innovative ways to engage with its customers. As the metaverse continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see what other groundbreaking ideas Nissan and other automotive giants will come up with.
