The term Metaverse has become such a buzzword that we almost convinced ourselves that we know what it means. For those who grew immune to Facebook’s charms or those who are too old to know what avatars, NFTs, and virtual reality are, the Metaverse is nothing more than an ambiguous concept used by teens and young adults. But if you wonder what the Metaverse is or how will it impact the car industry in the future, we have the answer for you.

The term Metaverse was coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science-fiction novel Snow Crash to describe a “shared virtual space that connects all virtual worlds using the internet and augmented reality,” according to Newsweek. Fast-forward to today and the meaning of the Metaverse is complementary to Stephenson's description of the "shared virtual world." Basically, humans can experience interactions, emotions, and encounters in "an integrated network of 3D virtual worlds," which can be accessed through a headset.

If it still sounds too complicated, then imagine you earn $65,000 a year, and you need to pay off your mortgage balance and send your teen kid to college. While you’re bored at work, you dream of owning a Ferrari 488 Pista or a Lamborghini Veneno Roadster and driving it through Italy’s most scenic towns and little villages. But then the reality kicks in, and you realize that from your salary, you can’t afford a trip to Italy, let alone own a Ferrari or a Lamborghini.

By contrast, in the virtual world, most people can “still” afford exotic cars and trips to distant countries; thus, thanks to the Metaverse, everyone can be a Michael Schumacher living life in the fast lane. Considering the appeal of the Metaverse and its incredible marketing potential, it is hardly surprising that most brands are proposing highly immersive experiences in the virtual world. Naturally, automotive companies are also entering the Metaverse.

Related: Acura Enters The Metaverse With Integra NFT

Nissan And Toyota Jumped On The Metaverse Bandwagon

Nissan in metaverse
via: Global News Nissan

Last May, Nissan revealed the Nissan Sakura electric minivehicle in the virtual world. Naturally, Nissan aficionados can test the Sakura at the Nissan Sakura Driving Island in the Metaverse. And in 2021, Nissan inaugurated a Metaverse version of its Nissan Crossing gallery in Tokyo. Meanwhile, Toyota inaugurated a virtual workspace for its employees. As such, Toyota employees can use avatars to engage in company events and corporate meetings. With that being said, the company’s HR and technical development departments are already leveraging the virtual world.

Ferrari Launches Its Own Metaverse Projects

2022 Red Ferrari 296 GTB Supercar Roof View
Ferrari

Ferrari has created a division that will capitalize on the opportunities created in the virtual world. The luxury Italian carmaker will focus on virtual reality, gaming, NFTs and Blockchain. Since last year, Ferrari entered a multi-year deal with Swiss tech firm Velas Network AG, which is a power player in Blockchain and NFTs. According to various sources, Velas will fashion exclusive digital content for the Ferrari fans. CoinYuppie reports that in 2021, Ferrari partnered with Epic Games to bring the 296 GTB to the game Fortnite.

Mercedes-Benz In The Virtual World

FTX and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
via: Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team
 

The German luxury automotive brand joined the Aura blockchain consortium as a founding member. It is worth noting that, Mercedes is the first automaker to join Aura, a platform created by the biggest luxury brands in the world. Mercedes-Benz also launched the G-Class in the Metaverse. And this project resulted from the collaboration with international crypto artist collective, Art2People. Elsewhere, in 2021, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team partnered with FTX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange to display FTX branding on both the drivers and cars. And the “the FTX logo will also be featured on the team’s fleet of Mercedes-Benz trucks, in the garage, and on all Partner logo displays in the trackside hospitality and communications facilities.”

The Virtual Porsche

porsche-vision-gran-turismo
via: YouTube 

Last Spring, Porsche inaugurated the Porsche Vision Gran Turismo, an all-electric concept car destined for the virtual world. The car was designed by Porsche in partnership with video game development studio Polyphony Digital Studios.

“It is not just about the looks, the driving experience and thus the driver was a crucial part of our development. We wanted to show what an all-electric sports car could look and feel like in 10 to 15 years,” said Peter Varga, Director of Exterior Design at Porsche AG.

Related: Why The Porsche Vision Gran Turismo May Not Be Exclusive To The Virtual World

Lamborghini’s NFT Project

Lamborghini-NFT-Space-Time-Memory
via: Lamborghini
 

The Italian luxury sports car manufacturer launched a NFT project: Space Time Memory. This is a series of five NFT photographs of a Lamborghini Ultimae that depict the car flying towards the stars. With that being said, the project created in partnership with Swiss artist Fabian Oefner celebrates human exploration in space. NFT PRO and RM Sotheby’s have received auction bids on the NFT digital art works. In the 75 hours and 50 minutes that the auction took place, all five NFTs combined reached a total of $659,636, according to Lambocars.