Leading German automaker Volkswagen has announced that it is bringing blockchain systems to the road for filling the tank, unlocking your car – and all kinds of other possibilities. The company said in a statement that this crypto technology offers enormous potential for maintenance, logistics, self-driving vehicles, and specialized solutions such as tamper-proof odometers.

It further added that blockchain models cover a number of different approaches, all of which have one thing in common: they are very secure. Most of them have thus far been used for digital currency, such as Bitcoin, IOTA, and Ethereum. But this new technology is finding an ever greater number of applications. Benjamin Sinram and Nicolai Bartkowiak from Volkswagen Group IT are working full steam ahead to bring blockchain technology to the road.

“We want our customers to become familiar with blockchain systems,” says Sinram. He and Bartkowiak are studying concrete applications themselves and have built up a network of nearly 300 employees in the Volkswagen Group, across all the brands, who exchange ideas on this topic and meet multiple times a year.

“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,” says Sinram.

“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,” explains Bartkowiak.