Temporary Vehicle Access Unlocking
Sector: Secondary sector · Industry: Automotive industry · Organisation: Porsche · Maturity level: Pilot
Porsche tested blockchain technology to make locking and unlocking vehicles via app faster and more secure. Access permissions can be granted digitally, immutably, and on a time-limited basis while being fully traceable. The approach enables a direct connection between the vehicle and the blockchain without a server detour and was developed in collaboration with technology partner XAIN.
Documentation status
- Project status: Pilot
- Evidence: Evidence high
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 12 July 2026
Description
Porsche developed a blockchain solution in a test phase together with technology partner XAIN that enables locking and unlocking vehicles via an app. The key difference to conventional solutions is that communication takes place directly between the app and the vehicle via the blockchain, without detouring through a central server. All access activities are immutably recorded on the blockchain and are accessible to the vehicle owner at any time. Additionally, time-limited access rights can be securely granted to third parties, such as workshops, car-sharing users or family members. According to Porsche, opening and closing the vehicle via the app with this technology takes only 1.6 seconds, up to six times faster than previous solutions.
As part of the Porsche Innovation Contest, a blockchain-based system was developed and tested together with Berlin-based technology company XAIN that makes vehicle access digitally and securely manageable. The core idea is to integrate blockchain technology directly into the vehicle, enabling an offline connection between vehicle and blockchain without relying on central servers. By using smart contracts, third parties such as parking service providers, workshops or mobility platforms can be integrated without additional hardware, enabling new business models around the vehicle. All access activities are immutably logged on the blockchain, so the vehicle owner can always see who accessed the vehicle and when. Porsche states that locking and unlocking via the app with this technology takes only 1.6 seconds, up to six times faster than conventional methods. The project status was communicated as a tested use case or pilot phase; an officially confirmed rollout to production vehicles is not evidenced by available sources. The technology also offers potential for encrypted data logging and support of autonomous driving functions.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
For companies in the automotive industry, fleet management or mobility services, this solution offers the possibility to manage vehicle access securely, transparently and flexibly without building expensive central IT infrastructure. Third parties can be seamlessly integrated via smart contracts, forming the basis for new cooperation models and services around the vehicle.
B2C — consumers perspective
Private individuals benefit from a faster and more secure way to open and close their vehicle via an app and to grant time-limited access rights to other people. The complete logging of all accesses gives vehicle owners more control and transparency over the use of their car.
Employees perspective
For employees who use or manage company vehicles, the technology can simplify access and improve traceability of vehicle use. However, its introduction requires the development of new digital skills, especially in handling blockchain-based apps and access systems.
Benefits
General
- According to Porsche, locking and unlocking via the app takes only 1.6 seconds, up to six times faster than previous solutions.
- All access activities are immutably recorded on the blockchain and are accessible to the owner at any time.
- Time-limited access rights can be securely and digitally granted to third parties.
- The solution works directly between app and vehicle without server detour, enabling remote access as well.
B2B — organisations
- Third parties can be integrated via smart contracts without additional hardware, enabling new business models.
- Tamper-proof logging of vehicle accesses reduces abuse risks in fleet management.
- Decentralised architecture reduces dependence on central server infrastructures.
B2C — consumers
- Faster and more convenient vehicle access via smartphone without a physical key.
- Secure and traceable transfer of access rights to family members or service providers.
Employees
- Digital access management simplifies the use and handover of company vehicles.
- Transparent logging creates clarity about vehicle use and responsibilities.
Challenges
General
- Integrating blockchain technology directly into vehicle electronics requires significant development efforts and close collaboration with vehicle manufacturers.
- An official rollout to production vehicles is not confirmed by available sources, indicating open questions regarding scaling and certification.
- Data protection requirements for logging access activities must be carefully considered.
B2B — organisations
- The integration of third parties via smart contracts requires clear contractual and technical standards.
- Without industry-wide interoperability standards, the solution remains manufacturer-specific for now.
B2C — consumers
- Users need a compatible smartphone and a functioning app connection, which is not guaranteed in all situations.
Employees
- Employees must learn new digital tools and access systems, which involves training effort.
Technology foundation
The use case is based on blockchain technology combined with smart contracts that are used directly in the vehicle. The solution was developed jointly with the technology partner XAIN and enables direct, serverless communication between the vehicle app and the blockchain. Smart contracts allow third parties to be integrated without additional hardware and enable automated and tamper-proof management of access rights. Blockchain technology is particularly suitable here because it combines immutability, transparency and decentralized access control in a single system.
Implementation examples
Porsche blockchain pilot project: vehicle access via app with XAIN
Porsche wanted to make vehicle access safer, faster and more flexible, as well as to open up new digital business models around the vehicle, for example by securely integrating third parties such as parking service providers or workshops.
Porsche tested a blockchain solution together with the technology partner XAIN that enables locking and unlocking of vehicles via app and digitally manages time-limited access rights. The approach was developed as part of the Porsche Innovation Contest and tested in a pilot phase.
As part of the Porsche Innovation Contest, Porsche developed a blockchain-based solution together with the Berlin startup XAIN that makes vehicle access controllable via an app. The system integrates blockchain technology directly into the vehicle, enabling direct, serverless communication between app and car. According to Porsche, locking and unlocking via the app takes only 1.6 seconds, which is up to six times faster than conventional methods. All access activities are immutably logged on the blockchain and can be viewed by the vehicle owner via the app. Additionally, time-limited access rights can be securely granted to third parties via smart contracts, and service providers can be integrated without additional hardware. According to available sources, the project was in the status of a tested use case or pilot phase; confirmed series deployment is not documented.
According to Porsche, locking and unlocking via the app takes only 1.6 seconds, making it up to six times faster than previous solutions (source: Porsche Newsroom).
Conventional access systems rely on central servers and offer limited possibilities for secure, time-limited transfer of access rights. Furthermore, tamper-proof logging of all vehicle accesses is often missing.
Tags
Vehicle access, Smart contract, Access control, Blockchain in the vehicle, Temporary authorisation, Automotive industry, XAIN