Unlocking a Trillion-Dollar Market Through Car Reservation Tokenization

Viewpoint by: Evan Kuhn, CEO of DeLorean Labs

When automobile makers introduce a fresh model, their disjointed logistics and sales processes mean that even if a buyer places a deposit, they have no practical or dependable method to estimate delivery for that vehicle.

Excited car purchasers can endure waits of months or even years after making their deposit, oblivious to their position in the delivery queue. This is the reason why new models are often sold above the suggested retail price when they first become available.

No universal resolution has emerged — yet tokenized reservations have the potential to unlock a multitrillion-dollar market.

The flawed logic of contemporary car reservations

Securing a car model now is remarkably inefficient. Automobile purchasers face hefty surcharges when new models leave the dealership because there is a lack of insight into production timelines.

The choices are clear: if you wish to acquire the new vehicle immediately, you must pay a significant premium over the suggested retail price; however, if you opt to pay the standard price, you have no influence or understanding of when you will receive your vehicle. So, how significant is this issue?

A recent APAC hospitality analysis demonstrated that cancellations via Booking.com contribute to 40% of revenue. In contrast, Expedia records 24%, indicating tens of billions are at stake globally, while ticket resale platforms apply 30% markups, disadvantaging both artists and audiences.

Automobile waitlists are even less transparent. Dealers have cheated consumers with $30,000-$70,000 surcharges on Ford F‑150 Lightning orders, illustrating a profitable secondary market generated entirely by information disparity, even in the absence of a formal “black market.” Even manufacturing suffers, with 15%-30% of capacity lying unused, according to a McKinsey report, as smaller companies do not have access to tradable reservation systems.

Smart contracts on the blockchain elegantly address concerns related to information disparity. Tokenized flat reservations, for instance, can hold deposits onchain, permitting buyers to trade their positions freely, while developers sustain consistent sales momentum.

The automotive sector’s $50 billion tokenization prospect

The auto industry presents a strong argument for reservation tokenization, where illusory waitlists have long facilitated exploitative markups.

Tesla’s Cybertruck gathered over 1 million reservations, each supported by a refundable deposit of up to $250, symbolizing over $200 million in dormant capital that could otherwise enhance secondary-market liquidity instead of being retained in corporate reserves.

Related: Carmaker DeLorean tokenizes EV reservations on Sui

A tokenized reservation framework would abolish such practices by transparently permitting queue positions to be tradable, with manufacturers earning royalties on secondary sales. The technical infrastructure is already in place. BMW’s venture-capital division has heavily invested in blockchain-based supply chain solutions, and Mercedes is experimenting with automated payment systems for car charging networks. Daimler, manufacturer of Mercedes, has also been investigating decentralized identity, data sharing within vehicles, and automatic payments for electric charging, leveraging blockchain in logistics and expenses.

Consider the ripple effects: An order for a Tesla that is subsequently tokenized might be traded based on production timelines, geographic delivery priorities, or customizations. Early adopters might sell their position in the queue, manufacturers might capture secondary-market value, and prices would be determined transparently, rather than being hidden by dealer surcharges.

These build-to-sell slots would operate like call options in financial markets, granting holders the right (not the obligation) to buy later. If preferences shift or demand surges, slots could be traded freely. This method would introduce market dynamics to an industry that has historically lacked transparency.

Skeptics might label this as overengineering, but the figures suggest differently. In February 2025 alone, OpenSea recorded over $211 million in non-fungible token (NFT) trading volume, capturing 47.8% of the market.

An effortless user experience is the missing connection

For widespread adoption, blockchain must become unnoticeable. Encouraging instances include Visa’s trials with gasless payments via Account Abstraction, Circle’s Verite, which enables users to demonstrate compliance without disclosing personal information, and Magic Link’s email-based wallet access. The aim isn’t to compel users into crypto, but to embed the benefits of blockchain into daily interactions, rendering them seamless, automatic, and largely invisible to the user.

According to Boston Consulting Group, the tokenization of real-world assets could hit $16.1 trillion, encompassing financial products such as insurance, pensions, alternative investments, home equity, infrastructure, and patents. Redirecting even a small fraction of that activity to real-world reservations, hotel accommodations, concert tickets, or unoccupied factory time would establish new secondary markets.

The path forward

Nike’s withdrawal from NFTs didn’t signify the demise of tokenization but rather sharpened its focus. Likewise, the next breakthrough won’t emerge from digital art, but from practical uses: hotel chains monetizing no-shows through open resale markets, automakers eradicating waitlist scalping with transparent slot trading, or healthcare providers minimizing MRI waste while benefiting from legitimate transfers.

The trillion-dollar question isn’t whether tokenized reservations will transform industries, but which sectors will act first to capture the benefits of open, liquid booking systems. Those who move expeditiously won’t merely address old challenges — they’ll unlock entirely new markets.

Viewpoint by: Evan Kuhn, CEO of DeLorean Labs.

This article serves general informational purposes and is not intended to be and should not be considered as legal or investment advice. The opinions, thoughts, and views expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.