Today Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Continental announced a new blockchain initiative for sharing data with autonomous vehicles. Data sharing between automotive brands is needed to warn cars about road hazards, calculate optimal routes, and identify available parking.
To date, proposed solutions involve an intermediary. HPE and Continental are instead suggesting a decentralized solution that will enable auto brands to receive money for their data. In 2016 McKinsey published a report on the topic in which it predicted that by 2030 the value of car data would reach $450 – $750 billion.
Car manufacturers will store their own data but if there’s a buyer for particular data sets the date will be shared once purchased. There will also be a built-in consent management system so that drivers have the option of opting-in.
The companies expect the platform to launch this year.
“Sharing vehicle data across vendors can solve some of the toughest traffic problems and improve driver experience by leveraging the power of swarm intelligence,” said Phil Davis, President Hybrid IT, Chief Sales Officer, HPE. “Together with Continental, we provide the key to unlock the value of this data treasure, not by taking control of the data ourselves, but by giving control to the drivers and car manufacturers.”
“We are sure that our platform cuts the Gordian knot of data sharing and data privacy,” said Helmut Matschi, Member of the Executive Board, Interior Division, Continental AG. “We invite car manufacturers globally to join our platform and collaboratively shape this quickly growing ecosystem.”
For many when they think of Continental, tires spring to mind. But today it has an “interior” division that deals with the inside of a vehicle ranging from instrument clusters and infotainment systems to telematics and intelligent transportation systems. Last week the company was involved in an experimental blockchain financial transaction with Siemens and Commerzbank.
