KEY POINTS
Hyundai is venturing into the metaverse by bringing back its iconic Pony car model, which debuted in 1975 and swiftly became South Korea’s inaugural mass-produced and exported vehicle.
For this initiative, in yet another collaboration with the metaverse app Zepeto, Hyundai has unveiled a new virtual world dubbed “Timeless Seoul.”
The main goal of this virtual experience is to evoke and celebrate the era when the Pony was first introduced, with a specific focus on engaging Gen-Z users and providing them with a taste of Hyundai’s brand essence.
Transporting users to the ambiance of 70s and 80s Seoul, the virtual world allows visitors to traverse the streets, explore stationery shops, and immerse themselves in the nostalgic atmosphere of “Retro Seoul street,” where they can listen to vinyl records.
Users can also partake in quests to earn virtual coins, which can then be used to upgrade their virtual Pony at the “Pony garage” and even take a virtual ride with it within the metaverse.
The virtual experience also offers a “Standing next to Pony” photo booth, enabling users to play the role of influencers attending a new Pony model release event and capture snapshots with their avatars.
This collaboration with Zepeto is not Hyundai’s first foray into the metaverse. The partnership began in 2021, initially paying tribute to the Sonata N line and subsequently showcasing the IONIQ 6.
Beyond the collaboration with Zepeto, Hyundai has also independently immersed itself in other Web3-related initiatives, notably unveiling the Shooting Star NFT collection in 2022, which eventually turned into “MobED (Mobile Eccentric Droid),” marking Hyundai’s first Metamobility NFTs.
In January, Hyundai expanded its metaverse presence by entering the Roblox metaverse with “Hyundai Future Adventure,” offering futuristic experiences and digital collectibles.
Taking a production-oriented approach to the metaverse, Hyundai also unveiled an Innovation Center in Singapore in November 2023, integrating robotics, AI, and the metaverse to revolutionize electric vehicle production.
