German automaker Volkswagen has announced that it is testing blockchain systems.

The company said that the technology has a lot of potential for application in maintenance, logistics, self-driving vehicles, and specialized solutions such as tamper-proof odometers. Benjamin Sinram and Nicolai Bartkowiak from Volkswagen Group IT are working on potential applications.

“Blockchain technology also offers a lot of opportunities when it comes to self-driving vehicles. It can protect cars from hackers better than other technologies, and help with automatic payments at fueling stations or car washes,” Bartkowiak said.

Sinram said that the company wants to familiarize its customers with blockchain systems. They have built a network of nearly 300 employees in the Volkswagen Group, across all the brands, who exchange ideas on this emerging technology.

“Our contacts among the different brands enable us to work very efficiently. The atmosphere is open, and we’re happy to include interested individuals from any department,” Sinram said.

According to the announcement, the company is currently testing three concrete potential applications for distributed ledger technology (DLT):

• A mileage clocking system, which will make it difficult to tamper odometers as every odometer reading can be saved permanently using a blockchain.
• A blockchain model, being developed by Porsche in collaboration with Berlin-based start-up XAIN, aimed at protecting cars from hackers.
• Volkswagen Financial Services is currently running a pilot study in Great Britain to test a blockchain model that streamlines business contact between providers and customers of electric charging stations.

“We’re building our own blockchain solution,” Bartkowiak added, “regardless of whether they’re based on IOTA, Ethereum, or other crypto technologies.” The most important thing: “We want to create added value for our customers. More security, more transparency, and partnership approaches to projects.”