Major automakers launch the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI)

MOBI is actively working with companies accounting for over 70 per cent of global vehicle production in terms of the market share. MOBI and partners, including, BMW, Bosch, Ford, General Motors, Groupe Renault, ZF, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Services USA and others seek an ecosystem where businesses and consumers have security and sovereignty over their driving data, manage ride-share and car-share transactions and store vehicle identity and usage information.

Blockchain technology operates by distributing information to a network of independent computers and ensuring that transactions are secure and data privacy, ownership rights and integrity are protected. Working in a consortium allows MOBI and partners to 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.

Chris Ballinger, former Chief Financial Officer and Director of Mobility Services at Toyota Research Institute, is joining MOBI as Chairman and CEO to coordinate the initiative and use blockchain to create a more open platform.

Through an open-source approach to blockchain software tools and standards, the MOBI consortium hopes to stimulate more rapid and scalable adoption of the technology by other companies developing autonomous vehicle and mobility services. MOBI is pleased to connect a majority of global mobility providers with blockchain innovators as well as government and non-government agencies, and institutions to collaborate on the development of blockchain-enabled vehicle data and mobility services applications.

MOBI’s approach to ecosystem development is open and inclusive, inviting stakeholders from across the entire mobility value chain and helps to establish a “minimum viable network”. This includes automakers, public transportation, toll road providers, other forms of transportation, technology firms, blockchain firms, academic institutions, start-up innovators and regulatory bodies across the globe – all designed to further the MOBI’s mission.

Joining Chris Ballinger as co-Founders and serving on the initial Board of Directors are Ashley Lannquist from Blockchain at Berkeley and David Luce, a veteran technology leader.

Dan Harple, internet pioneer and CEO of Context Labs, Brian Behlendorf, Executive Director of Hyperledger, and Jamie Burke, CEO of Outlier Ventures, join MOBI’s Board of Advisors, which will help ensure MOBI achieves its goals.

Initially, MOBI will be working with its partners 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
• Car-sharing and ride-hailing
• Usage-based mobility pricing for vehicles, insurance, energy, congestion, pollution and infrastructure.

MOBI and its partners announced their collaboration at the Future Blockchain Summit.