- Brabus partnered with Aura Blockchain Consortium to protect its products against counterfeiting.
- The tuner will equip its 2025 model-year cars with a blockchain-based Digital Product Passport solution.
The Brabus badge makes an already luxurious and sporty Mercedes-Benz or Mercedes-Maybach car stand out more. The German aftermarket tuning specialist has no shortage of what it could do to bring out extra exclusivity and performance to vehicles bearing the three-pointed star marque. However, it also suffers from replicas blatantly produced by counterfeiters.
For this reason, the company recently announced a partnership with the Aura Blockchain Consortium. The collaboration aims to integrate blockchain-based Digital Product Passport (DPP) technology into its Brabus Masterpiece cars starting in the 2025 model year.
The consortium was an initiative forged by popular luxury brands, including LVMH, Prada, Cartier, Richemont, and the OTB Group.
Blatant Copyright Infringement of Brabus Products
As they say, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” But then again, the practice becomes so wrong at any given angle without the express permission of the trademark or rights holder of a certain product.
In the case of Brabus, as with any other genuine manufacturer, it takes away profits. In addition, it exposes its customer base to substandard products and workmanship, and negatively impacts its overall identity. Moreover, the practice is unfair to customers who actually availed of authentic bespoke products and services for their luxury autos.
Take for example some Brabus copycat masquerading itself as a mini version of the G-Class that Supercar Blondie featured earlier. In reality, the wannabe was a Suzuki Jimny with what appeared to be Brabus’ widebody kit and logo.
At a glance, one could mistake the supposed mini G-Wagen as a product of Brabus and based on the iconic Mercedes SUV. However, a closer look at the quality of its components and craftsmanship, especially the interior, would immediately reveal its true character.
Brabus and Aura’s Blockchain-Based Solution
Brabus’ solution to combat counterfeiting is embedding its vehicles with a DPP application. The app uses NTAG 424 DNA Near Field Communication (NFC) chips installed within the car’s interior. The NFC is linked to Aura’s private blockchain.
The combination of the two cutting-edge technologies allows Brabus owners to sync their smartphones with their cars to review its key credentials. This provides them access to transparency, which lets them verify their vehicles’ authenticity.
The DPP solution reflects if the auto and its components trace back to the tuner’s production plant in Bottrop, Germany.
What It Does
Brabus DPP solution lets users easily establish ownership of their units. They could use a dedicated smartphone wallet app to download and store the ownership certificate of their tuned cars.
This way, they could conveniently prove ownership of their cars. They could also utilize it to quickly access important data about their units whenever the need arises. This feature is especially handy during maintenance, repairs, parts replacement, warranty claims, and registration, among others.
“By integrating Digital Product Passport technology, powered by the Aura Blockchain Consortium, into every Masterpiece vehicle as of model year 2025, Brabus strengthens its commitment to offering clients all over the world the highest standard of craftsmanship and security,” stated Brabus in the press material it emailed to BenzInsider. “In the future, both parties plan to intensify their collaboration and develop solutions to further expand the possibilities in the world of high-end luxury mobility.”