Ford (NYSE:Ā F), one of the most successful car manufacturers in terms of sales, has recently filed several trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to get ready for a possible push into theĀ metaverse.
Licensed trademark attorney Michael Kondoudis revealed the filing in aĀ tweetĀ on September 7 and claimed the car giant was making a ābig moveā into the metaverse. The filings will cover its major brands claiming plans for virtual cars, trucks, vans, and clothing as well as online stores for non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Notably, the filings follow from other automakers as the company is attempting to safeguard its involvement in the aforementioned space, including the provision of Ford-brandedĀ NFTs on an NFT marketplace of its own.Ā
Fordās goes digital
In light of the fact that the corporation has previously said that it was investigating the digital world to develop new methods to grow its business, this latest move by Ford is hardly surprising. Alexandra Ford English, worldwide brand merchandising director at Ford,Ā announcedĀ in September last year:
āAnywhere you go around the world, you find passionate Ford fans and we want to offer them an inspiring collection of merchandise and accessories, and potentially even digital products like NFTs.ā
A long list of successful businesses, including several in Fordās industry, have already incorporated these digital realms and products into their operations. Recently, the French manufacturer Renault has taken a step in this manner byĀ signing a collaboration agreementĀ withĀ The Sandbox, a metaverse platform, to showcase virtual automobile experiences with products of the brand.Ā
Other companies, like Hyundai, a vehicle manufacturer based in South Korea, are also making their way into the metaverse by showcasing some of their upcoming automobile items inside a metaverse environment. Hyundai Motor is expected to launch NFTs representing its mobility solutions which are part of the āMetamobility Universe,ā unveiled by the automaker at CES 2022.Ā
Finally, in April, British luxury supercar manufacturer,Ā McLaren Automotive, announced the introduction of McLaren Special Operations (MSO) LAB, which introduces an exclusive new digital community that symbolizes the next chapter in the companyās metaverse strategy.Ā