Nissan Doubles Down on Web3 Innovation

Japanese motor giant, Nissan, has made significant progress in its foray into the NFT and Web3 space. The company filed four new Web3-related trademarks in the United States covering its Infiniti, Nismo, and Nissan brands.

The filings reveal Nissan’s plans to create virtual clothes, cars, headgear, trading cards, toys, tickets, and an NFT marketplace for trading and minting NFTs.

Nissan has also outlined plans for metaverse advertising services and other “entertainment services,” including online video, images, artwork, tickets, audio, sounds, music, and trading cards, as well as a website with information about its proposed NFTs and how they will work.

Nissan’s Japan unit is also experimenting with auto sales in the metaverse through its virtual store “Nissan Hype Lab,” which allows customers to visit the virtual storefront via a PC or smartphone, create customized avatars, and interact with virtual sales staff.

Customers can even order and finalize purchase contracts through this virtual sales office. According to Nissan’s announcement, the trial will run from March 8 to June 30. For the trial, the company will study, consult, test drive and purchase Nissan vehicles while in the metaverse, examining the possibility of new sales methods for cars.

Nissan Going All In on Web3

It’s not the first time Nissan has experimented with Web3 and smart contract technology. In October 2022, the Japanese automotive giant filed five trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, revealing plans to enter the NFT, Web3, and Metaverse space.

The applications cover its prominent car models such as SKYLINE, Z, and GTR and were to introduce offerings such as NFT-backed media, online NFT marketplaces, digital wallets, and NFT minting, trading, and storing software.

The patent 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.

And with this latest patent offering, it’s clear the Japanese motor giant is going all in on its Web3 developments.

Other Automotive Giants Into Web3

It’s worth noting other automotive giants, including General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and MG have also made significant moves in the NFT and Web3 space.

Only last month, GM Motors announced it was interested 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.

And last fall, the 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.