German automotive technology company Continental and IT multinational Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) have announced a new blockchain-based vehicle data-sharing platform that can improve driver safety and convenience while helping auto makers monetize their data.
Expected to be available later this year, and based on blockchain technology, the new platform provides data sovereignty, security, transparency and efficiency to overcome the barriers of sharing vehicle data. Enterprises across different industries have understood that they need to find ways to break down data silos and enable multiple parties to work together to extract the full value from their data. In the case of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), data sharing across automotive brands is key to providing driver-assistance services that help drivers avoid traffic hazards and find the most convenient and efficient travel routes, such as real-time congestion warnings and the availability of parking.
Several existing digital ecosystems enable data sharing based on a middleman model, where platform owners centrally coordinate the data flows and monetization. Applying a complimentary approach, HPE and Continental’s platform makes use of a decentralized architecture based on blockchain technologies. Participants, such as auto makers, continue storing the data in their own data centers and only share specific data sets upon purchase directly with the buyer. This approach gives data sovereignty to all participants in the ecosystem, while at the same time providing a highly efficient and secure procedure for monetizing vehicle data. Jointly designed by HPE Pointnext and Continental’s interior division, the platform’s interface capability will enable multiple ecosystems, both centralized or decentralized, to interconnect and facilitate data trading.
The data-monetization platform will enable auto makers and other partners to trade data with each other, either to improve digital services for their customers or to generate revenue. However, trading is only feasible upon a driver’s consent. Therefore, the platform will integrate a consent management system and provide an easy-to-use opt-in and opt-out system for drivers. HPE and Continental have made sure that the platform is compliant with the European Union’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) legislation and data protection regulations in other countries. The platform is also compliant with the German automotive industry’s VDA NEVADA (Neutral Extended Vehicle for Advanced Data Access) Share & Secure concept, which was developed to govern the secure transmission and transfer of vehicle-generated data to third parties.
“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 of hybrid IT and chief sales officer at 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.”
Helmut Matschi, member of Continental’s executive board, added, “We are sure that our platform cuts the Gordian knot of data sharing and data privacy. We invite car manufacturers globally to join our platform and collaboratively shape this quickly growing ecosystem.”
