Porsche has participated in a 5.5 million euros ($5.9 million) funding round for a German startup Gapless — the developer of a blockchain-based vehicle management system. Among other contributors, Gapless saw FinLab EOS VC Fund, a joint venture between Block.one and FinLab, and insurance entrepreneur Kersten Jodexnis, Tech.eu reported on April 29. Gapless is going to allocate the raised money to further develop its key product, an application that allows users to record a complete history of vehicles, as well as increase its user base. According to Gapless, it currently manages over 50,000 vehicles on its platform in Germany, the …

Indian tech startup Smart Sight Innovation — or SSI — has developed an app designed to improve maintenance and inspection of vehicles. SSI built the mobile app for an unnamed American client, which specializes in the development of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and blockchain platforms, according to an April 27 announcement. Currently, the app is available on Android devices. Keeping data in digital lockers SSI said that the app creates a summary of various issues — like repair work and compliance with inspection criteria — faced by a vehicle. It also sends alerts to vehicle drivers, and takes pictures …

While many nations remain at a near-standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic, major players in tech are continuing to develop innovative infrastructure for when we get moving again. Sony announced on April 23 that it has successfully developed a new blockchain system for integrating data and service provision across different forms of transportation — whether it be trains, buses, taxis, car-sharing or on-demand rental bicycles. This approach to transport — referred to as MaaS (Mobility as a Service) — aims to provide people with data regarding optimal routes to their desired destinations. The system aims to replace a siloed, type-specific …

Teleport, the logistics division of major airline, AirAsia, has launched a blockchain-based cargo booking system called Freightchain. According to an April 16 announcement, Freightchain is “the world’s first digital air cargo network run on blockchain.” The network — which is launching today — allows shippers or freight forwarders to instantly book and confirm any of AirAsia’s 247 aircraft to carry cargo. Freightchain assigns shippers and their freight forwarders to cargo connections to help them with their supply chain needs, and facilitate bookings in real-time which are processed on-chain. The project’s chief technology officer, Vishal Batra, explained that the network is …

DeCurret, the exchange promoting cryptocurrency to be used as a payment method for Japan’s massive public transportation system, just restructured its capital. According to an April 10 press release by the crypto exchange, DeCurret announced that it had issued new shares worth 2.75 billion yen — approximately $25 million — in a third-party allocation of shares. The company plans to use the capital to “enhance transaction services for existing virtual currencies” and to promote the “expansion of digital currency and settlement services”. Crypto used as payment for public transportation in Japan? Though several prefectures in Japan have been under a …

Major car manufacturer, General Motors, or GM, has filed a patent application for a continuously updating navigation map system. The system would use blockchain to integrate data from vehicle sensors and build a reliable map for autonomous vehicles. According to the filing, which was submitted on Oct. 1, 2018 and published on April 2, 2020, existing maps are “difficult to keep dynamic without incurring large costs.”One potential reason for this is that most maps are maintained through specialized vehicles, whose reach will necessarily be limited to just a few specific sections of the world. General Motors’ solution is to distribute …

Investment platform CurioInvest and Seychelles-based digital asset exchange MERJ Exchange Ltd. will jointly begin offering a token backed by collector luxury cars. The so-called Car Token (CT1) token is set to be pegged to the value of collectible cars giving more people a chance to have a fraction of an asset, BNN Bloomberg reported on Jan. 30. Historically safe havens? The company stipulated that the attractiveness of the token also lies in the fact that the value of such goods continues to appreciate. “When you look at fine art, collectible cars, they have been perceived historically as safe havens,” said …

Major car manufacturer Mercedes Benz and blockchain startup Circulor are jointly rolling out a pilot aimed at the tracing carbon emissions in the cobalt supply chain. According to a Jan. 30 press release, the project by Mercedes and Circulor comes as part of the Startup Autobahn initiative, aimed at identifying next-generation automobiles. The companies will deploy blockchain to trace the emissions of climate-relevant gases and the amount of recycled materials along the complex supply chains of battery cell manufacturers. Mercedes eventually intends to use data collected during this pilot to develop its new carbon-neutral passenger car fleet. But first is …

Updated 20:00 UTC, Nov. 26: This article has been updated to include comments from Omni Rentals that Cointelegraph received after initial publication. Omni Rentals, a $35 million-funded storage and rental startup backed by major crypto firm Ripple, is reportedly shutting down its operations. As Omni is expecting to close its platform by the end of 2019, about 10 of Omni’s engineers will be hired by major American crypto exchange and wallet service Coinbase, tech-focused publication TechCrunch reports Nov. 25. Omni had not made an official closure announcement at press time, but a representative from Omni did confirm the closure in …

Blockchain company HashCash Consultants has announced a partnership with a group of international car, mining and battery manufacturers to develop a blockchain-based supply chain network to track minerals. As Business Insider reported on Nov. 18, the parties are planning to build a blockchain-based supply chain system to trace ethical sourcing of minerals used in car and battery production such as cobalt, tungsten and lithium. By doing this, the companies aim to address child labor for mining operations. Addressing child labor in minerals mining The planned network is set to bring more transparency to the entire supply chain of minerals specifically …

Italian luxury sports car brand Lamborghini is using Salesforce Blockchain to authenticate heritage Lamborghini cars. Salesforce, a major global customer relationship management firm, announced on Nov. 19 that Lamborghini can now trace, certify and authenticate heritage cars faster and more securely using its blockchain platform. Launched in May 2019, Salesforce’s Hyperledger-based blockchain platform will now be implemented to create a trusted network between multiple participants for certification checks during a Lamborghini’s resale. Each Lamborghini vehicle will now come with an immutable record of service Typically, when a Lamborgini is resold, the vehicle goes through 800 or 1,000 certification inspections that …

Automaker Volvo announced on Nov. 6 that it will use cobalt tracked on a blockchain for its car batteries following the unveiling of its fully electric XC40 Recharge model last month. “Transparent and reliable shared data network” Volvo has reached an agreement with its two battery suppliers, namely China-based CATL and South Korea-based LG Chem. Volvo explains: “Blockchain technology, which establishes a transparent and reliable shared data network, significantly boosts transparency of the raw material supply chain as the information about the material’s origin cannot be changed undetected.” As part of the deal, the two suppliers will cover Volvo’s battery …