Following the trend of established companies entering the NFT space, Mercedes-Benz, the well-known car manufacturer, is releasing its third NFT collection, Mercedes-Benz NXT Icons. The collection will be available starting September 5, 2023, and it will mark the beginning of “The Luxury Era,” the first of seven chapters that will showcase the brand’s rich design heritage.
The Mercedes-Benz design team, led by Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener, is leading this innovative project. They aim to explore the brand’s rich design heritage through a digital lens. Each chapter or “era” in the collection has a distinct theme, promising digital asset enthusiasts an informative journey. The inaugural chapter, “The Luxury Era,” seeks to combine tradition with the emerging Web3 frontier, representing an era of luxury and evolution.
The Mercedes-Benz NXT Icons collection is a digital reimagining of the brand’s most iconic cars. Each “era” in the collection will feature around 2,700 NFTs, for a total of 18,860 NFTs across all seven eras. The inaugural “Luxury Era” will feature six renowned models: the Mercedes-AMG SL 63, Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, Mercedes-Benz EQS 580, Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E PERFORMANCE, Mercedes-Benz G 500, and Mercedes-Maybach S 680. These models have been reinterpreted as digital masterpieces, bringing them to life in a new and exciting way.
The auction for the Mercedes-Benz NXT Icons NFTs will use a unique format called a rebate Dutch auction. After the auction ends, the visuals and details of the NFTs will not be revealed immediately. Buyers and enthusiasts will have to wait 24 hours before they can see the artwork. This is to create a sense of anticipation and excitement for the collection.
Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to digital assets. In June 2023, the automotive giant made waves with the announcement of its first-ever NFT collection, “Maschine.” This collection, a collaboration with Dutch artist Harm Van den Dorpel and art collector Fingerprints DAO, consisted of 1,000 Ethereum-based NFTs that explored the concepts of motion and speed through the artistic representation of a spinning wheel.
Major automobile manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Nissan are increasingly entering the Web3 space and NFT marketplaces. This collaboration is forging a new path where digital art and automotive heritage meet, creating a new and engaging way for enthusiasts to connect with these respected brands in the digital age. As Mercedes-Benz prepares to launch its NXT Icons collection, it invites a curious audience to witness a harmonious blend of tradition and digital innovation, charting a new course in the brand’s storied history.
