After a 20-years, Alfa Romeo resurfaced, launching its 2023 Tonale electric hybrid vehicle, the fourth project from the company since 2014.
The new Tonale 2023 SUV, according to the Italian automaker, will be the first vehicle in the industry that will include NFT and blockchain technology. Each Tonale SUV will be linked to an irremovable token that certifies the vehicle’s data on the blockchain.
“Digitization is a key factor in enabling our metamorphosis,” said Francesco Calcara, Alfa Romeo’s Head of Global Marketing and Communications. “The Tonale is the first car ever to have a blockchain-based non-removable token. NFTs are based on the same distributed information logic that protects your bitcoin. It saves all data on the blockchain.”
The benefits will become apparent upon resale, as the NFT will generate a certificate which can be used to verify that the car has been properly maintained, resulting in a potentially higher resale value.
The Tonale, like its big brother the Stelio, is named after a famous Italian mountain pass and will be available in two electrified versions – a mild hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
According to Larry Dominique, Tonale’s North American operations manager, the new 2023 vehicle will mark the end of all Alfa Romeo vehicles with a traditional internal combustion engine. By 2027, Stellantis, owner of Alfa Romeo, hopes to sell exclusively electric vehicles.
“Everything from that day forward will be pure BEV,” he told CNBC. “By end of 2027…I won’t be selling any more internal combustion engine vehicles at all. ”The 110-year-old auto manufacturer joins other competing brands that have already entered the world of NFTs. Last month, in collaboration with artist Fabian Oefner, Lamborghini launched the Space Time Memory project, comprising five pairs of both physical and digital art.
The auction ended with lots ranging from $70,000 to $203,000.
And Italian supercar rivals Ferrari recently announced a multi-year partnership with Swiss tech firm Velas Network AG to develop NFT content for the brand.
The partnership opens the doors to a whole new user base for the tech company: Ferrari has over 21 million followers on Instagram.
