BMW i Ventures has invested in Via Science, Inc. (VIA) to boost data protection in its products.

“As software-defined vehicles, robots, and edge devices become the norm, securing data flows between sensors, onboard systems, agents, and external networks is more critical than ever,” said Kasper Sage, managing partner of BMW i Ventures, in a press release. “VIA is paving the way for real-time communication across trusted systems and safer, more resilient mobility solutions.”

BMW says traditional cybersecurity companies focus primarily on network segmentation and passwords, leaving core vulnerabilities in data access and trust mechanisms unaddressed. In contrast, VIA goes further with mission-specific security solutions and a decentralized architecture that separates data protection from storage and transport, ensuring just-in-time access and privacy for authorized parties,” the release states.

“As we have proven [to] our customers, decentralized, passwordless Web3 solutions have become the only viable option for securing data transfers between systems of record, internal teams, external partners, machines, and AI agents,” said Colin Gounden, co-founder and CEO of VIA. “This funding will accelerate adoption of our paradigm-shifting technology platform by the enterprise.”

Web3 data protection solutions ensure all transactions are verified, protected, and auditable regardless of where data resides, according to the release.

Kate Ravanis, chief operating officer and co-founder, added, “Unlike any other Web3 technologies, our quantum-secure, passwordless solutions can be deployed quickly and easily in a variety of the most demanding environments and our entire software stack from operating system to mobile application is checked 24/7 for vulnerabilities.”

The investment is part of an oversubscribed Series B funding round of $28 million.

In September 2023, BMW said it takes data privacy and security “very seriously” in response to research from the Mozilla Foundation that claims vehicles are the worst threat to consumer data privacy.

According to Mozilla, OEMs can collect sexual activity, immigration status, race, facial expression, weight, health, and genetic data as well as where customers drive.

The brands evaluated were Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, BMW, Ford, Toyota, Tesla, Kia, Subaru, Chrysler, GMC, Cadillac, Dacia, Jeep, Lincoln, Acura, Fiat, Volkswagen, Dodge, Buick, Lexus, Honda, Audi, Chevrolet, Renault and Hyundai.

While customers may be able to opt-out, doing so could mean losing the full functionality of connected services — if they work at all without data use consent, according to Mozilla. There is sometimes the option to have personally identifiable information (PII) deleted but not every state in the U.S. gives consumers that right.

Mozilla found Nissan to be the worst offender and BMW was considered one of the best.

BMW stated in a press release at the time that customers are provided with comprehensive data privacy notices that inform them about the collection of their personal information, which allows vehicle drivers “to make granular choices regarding the collection and processing of their personal information.”

“Further, we allow our customers to delete their data whether on their apps, vehicles, or online,” BMW said. “BMW NA [North America] does not sell our customer’s in-vehicle personal information and provides our customers the opportunity to opt out of BMW targeted behavioral advertising on the Internet.

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