Celebrating Growth with a New Emoji
WhatsApp, in celebration of its rapid growth in the United States, has launched a new custom race car emoji. This launch is part of a celebration marking WhatsApp’s double-digit growth in both daily users and messages sent on WhatsApp in the U.S.
The Emoji Launch
The new race car emoji, now available for over two billion users to use in their chats, was released just in time for the Miami Grand Prix. To mark this occasion, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and CEO and team principal Toto Wolff lit up the Empire State Building in a bright WhatsApp green.
A Dynamic Light Show
Following the lighting of the Empire State Building, a dynamic light show takeover of the building’s façade featured an animated projection of the new emoji racing through New York City.
Bringing the Emoji to Life
The celebration will continue with a demonstration of a Formula One car on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, where Hamilton will be at the wheel. This event will take place alongside a life-sized replica of the emoji race car.
Statements from the Partners
Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, expressed his excitement about the growth of WhatsApp in the U.S. and the partnership with Mercedes. Toto Wolff echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the natural fit between the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and WhatsApp due to their shared passion for connecting people through shared experiences, telling incredible stories, and setting benchmarks in their respective fields.
Lewis Hamilton’s Special Connection
Lewis Hamilton shared his special connection with the United States and his excitement about driving an F1 car down Fifth Avenue and lighting up the Empire State Building. He emphasized the role of WhatsApp in keeping his connection to the U.S. alive by making it easy to stay in touch with people stateside.
WhatsApp: The Choice for Private Cross-Platform Communication
WhatsApp has become the choice for private cross-platform communication in the U.S., offering features like sharing HD photos and videos, real-time reactions in group chats, voice and video calls, all with the privacy and security of end-to-end encryption.
A Commitment to Bringing Fans Closer to the Sport
Coinciding with the massive and growing popularity of Formula 1 in the United States, WhatsApp announced a partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team late last year. As the official messaging partner for the team, WhatsApp is committed to bringing fans even closer to the sport.
