I grew up in Detroit. Henry Ford. The Motor City. My Dad's generation viewed cars as freedom. Blockchains will play a role in improving the dynamics of auto industries - here are seven examples. 

1. Supply Chain Management - Blockchain technology will increase automotive industry supply chain transparency and efficiency by helping companies track parts and materials from production to delivery. Counterfeiting reduced and improvement to overall supply chain management. 

2. Vehicle History Tracking - Blockchains will secure and decentralize databases for vehicle's histories, including maintenance records, ownership information, and accident reports. Such information will provide valuable insights for buyers, sellers, and manufacturers. Reference: https://www.ibm.com/case-studies/renault/

3. Car Sharing / Rental Services - Blockchains can decentralize car-sharing platforms. Will allow users to rent cars from private owners and use shared fee-based vehicles. Utilization of underutilized vehicles will increase and provide increasingly affordable and convenient alternatives to traditional car rentals. Reference: https://www.automotiveworld.com/?p=306417 

4. Payment, Billing - Blockchains will be used to process secure, efficient, low-cost payment and billing systems for electric charging, parking, and other Electric vehicle-related services. Experience of users improved and facilitated adoption of newly electrified mobility systems.

5. Decentralized Ride-Hailing - Blockchains will decentralize ride-hailing platforms. Smart contracts will automatically match drivers and passengers and remove intermediaries while reducing transaction costs.

6. Vehicle Maintenance and Upgrades - Blockchains can be used to securely store vehicle maintenance records, upgrades, and will allow manufacturers and dealers to provide better after-sales services and support. Reference: https://www.ibm.com/blogs/internet-of-things/blockchain-for-automotive/?mhsrc=ibmsearch_a&mhq=automotive%20blockchain%20 

7. Vehicle Identity Management - Blockchains will securely store and manage vehicle identity, helping secure and decentralize registries that can be help track warranties, insurance coverage, and road usage charges among other applications

These are just some of the ways that blockchains are expected to be used in the automotive industry in the future. Certainly, I expect new use cases will emerge as technologies advance and become increasingly adopted.

One thing I know will be big soon, I think, is tracking of EV batteries using blockchain technology. For better or worse, manufacturers are looking for ways to control the lifecycles of EV batteries and the resources within them that can be recaptured through recycling and infinitely reused. 

Are you seeing any blockchain and crypto related tech in automobile circles you hang out in? What do you think? Will it be a dystopian future where your every move is tracked in your car, or a brighter, decentralized one where owners retain control and privacy perhaps fostered by blockchains? 

Cheers -