Automaker Daimler AG Joins Hyperledger Blockchain Project

Daimler AG, the parent company of luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz, has joined the Linux Foundation led Hyperledger project.

The firm announced today that it had joined up with the initiative. Daimler is the second high-profile member to join Hyperledger this year. Late last month, credit card giant American Express announced that it had become part of the project.

Daimler AG CIO Jan Brecht said in a statement:

“We see blockchain as a promising technology, not fully mature yet, but continuously growing. Now is the right time to get into it, build up knowledge and form a network of like-minded people to share experiences. By joining Hyperledger, we are confident to do the right step towards this direction.”

As part of the move, Jonas von Malottki, an IT executive for Daimler, will join the Hyperledger governing board.

The entry into Hyperledger is Daimler's first major foray into the blockchain space, though there appear to be some connections between the firm and the technology more broadly.

Last month, the conglomerate acquired European payment service PayCash, which supports bitcoin payments. While not explicitly tied to work with blockchain, the acquisition is part of a plan to develop in-car payment services.

Mercedes-Benz Vehicle via Shutterstock