By Bradley Berman — Lead Editor

The DAV Foundation announced today that it joined the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI). We are excited to be part of MOBI which includes leaders in automotive technology like BMW, Ford, GM, Renault and ZF. Other MOBI participants include top-tier technology organizations such as Bosch, IOTA, and Hyperledger. MOBI was created to explore Blockchain and related technologies, develop and promote technical standards, and accelerate adoption.

The automotive industry is highly competitive, with brands competing head-to-head to sell vehicles and services. But it also relies on common technology standards (often taking the form of joint research projects on technologies like batteries and fuel cells, as well as official standards developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers). Chris Ballinger, the chief executive of MOBI, told CoinDesk that, in his previous job at the Toyota Research Institute, he realized the need for a consortium after conducting several blockchain proofs-of-concept with startups. That’s when Ballinger envisioned a decentralized business network, now come to fruition as MOBI. “If each auto company is trying to develop its own car wallets or its own way of paying tolls, or providing a ride-sharing service, it just doesn’t work,” he said.

“MOBI is excited to have DAV join us in supporting blockchain-enabled mobility,” said Ballinger. “Open standards create transparency and fair access. Together, MOBI, DAV and other participants are creating a mobility future that is more inclusive, safe, and green.”

Critically, MOBI is technology agnostic — an acknowledgment that there will be many competing solutions, sometimes overlapping, that will emerge in the new ecosphere of blockchain-based transportation. By joining the initiative, the DAV Foundation is hopeful that we can build awareness of our open protocol and make it known how it can help all parties in the ecosphere of ledger-based mobility services.

As we join MOBI, the DAV Foundation also reaffirms our steadfast commitment to an open-source, decentralized strategy to allow mobility providers to connect with any other providers or consumers on the platform without the middleman. All innovators, big and small, are invited to the party. You don’t need permission to use the DAV protocol. Just opt-in and start building the next great transport application, allow your vehicles to utilize the DAV protocol, or become a service provider.