MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -

Another way blockchain is working its way into the automotive industry rolled out this past weekend as the technology world gathered in the Big Apple for the start of the first New York City Blockchain Week.

CarBlock, a blockchain-based transportation solution built on data generated by smart devices announced that it has joined MOBI — the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative — to explore blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) for use in the development of a digital mobility ecosystem that could make transportation safer, more affordable, and more widely available.

CarBlock is collaborating with the MOBI and other industry, government, and non-profit partners to foster a digital environment where users — both businesses and consumers — may securely record driving data, manage ride-share and car-share transactions, and store vehicle identity and usage information.

Blockchain technology can send information over a network of independent computers, known as a distributed ledger, intended to ensure that transactions are secure and data privacy, ownership rights, and integrity are protected. CarBlock and its partners believe that blockchain technology may create transparency and trust among users, reduce risk of fraud, and reduce frictions and transaction costs in mobility, such as fees or surcharges applied by third parties.

“We believe in MOBI and its broad abilities to revolutionize the transportation industry. We can see its potential in a variety of use cases, including the ability to expand our own offerings and service more drivers,” said Julie Wang, co-founder and head of ecosystems at CarBlock.

Through an open-source approach to software tools and standards, the MOBI consortium hopes to stimulate more rapid and scalable adoption of blockchain technology applications by other companies developing autonomous vehicle and mobility services. CarBlock said it is pleased to join MOBI to collaborate with global partners on the development of blockchain-enabled vehicle data and mobility services applications.

Initially, CarBlock will be working with MOBI on projects related to:

—Vehicle identity, history and data tracking
—Supply chain tracking, transparency, and efficiency
— Autonomous machine and vehicle payments
— Secure mobility ecosystem commerce
— Data markets for autonomous and human driving
— Carsharing and ride-hailing
— Usage-based mobility pricing for vehicles, insurance, energy, congestion, pollution, infrastructure, etc.

“I'm excited that MOBI is coordinating this initiative to use blockchain technology to create a more open platform where users, owners, mobility service companies, and infrastructure providers can better control and monetize their assets, including their data,” said Chris Ballinger, chief executive officer of MOBI.

“Our hope is that other industry stakeholders will join this effort to accelerate the adoption of this technology to create a new ecosystem of clean, safe, on-demand, reliable and affordable transportation.”

MOBI’s partners also include Bosch, General Motors, Ford, Renault and many others as highlighted in this previous report from Auto Remarketing.

CarBlock and MOBI launched its partnership at a celebration last Friday at the Manhattan Classic Car Club during New York City Blockchain Week.

The launch party was attended by nearly 200 guests, including industry executives, investors, thought leaders, partners and media.

CarBlock highlighted many of its partners, including MOBI, Your Mechanic and nonda, all of which are “thrilled to be partnering with a company who is set to take the transportation data industry by storm,” according to those firms.

“CarBlock is doing something that is desperately needed within the transportation industry,” said Ivan Chong, vice president of worldwide sales at nonda, a provider of app-enabled automotive accessories. “We are thrilled to be able to partner with someone so innovative and bring our own users expanded benefits and better control over their own driving data.”

As participants in the blockchain transportation industry, CarBlock said it is working to give driver’s the ability to control, and profit, off their own data by connecting drivers and providers via their ecosystem.

The company is adding new partners and has seen a huge interest by both the investor and innovator communities alike.

“We are honored to be able to host such a fun event where everyone can celebrate CarBlock, learn about what we do and network with people from around the globe,” said Christina Lockwood, head of community and communications at CarBlock.

“Often these types of events are strictly geared at industry professionals. However, we wanted to share our story with the greater New York community because CarBlock’s ultimate goal is to ease pain points and provide access to all drivers,” Lockwood went on to say.