Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again made a proud achievement through an innovative new technology initiated by its alumni. A project titled CAR-dano, a blockchain-based used car inspection platform is set to be launched to the public.
More than just a conventional application, this project is a decentralized system designed to create a transparent, secure, and tamper-proof vehicle inspection record mechanism through smart contract technology.
This brilliant idea comes from Dunung Lintang Asmoro, a graduate of UGM’s Mechanical Engineering program from the 2020 cohort and founder of PT Inspeksi Mobil Jogja, a startup that has actively provided used car inspection services for over three years.
The technology he developed allows inspection data to hold added value as a historical reference for vehicles and to support smarter decision-making in car trading transactions.
With a track record of generating thousands of independent vehicle inspection reports, Asmoro recognized an urgent need for a recording system that is accurate and verifiable by all parties in an open and transparent manner.
Through this approach, he hopes CAR-dano can significantly change Indonesia’s used car market, particularly by improving trust in vehicle condition data.
“The thousands of reports I have collected so far are the foundation for developing CAR-dano, which not only strengthens the credibility of inspection reports but also builds a new ecosystem that is more accountable, efficient, and sustainable in the used car market in Indonesia, leveraging blockchain technology,” he explained on Tuesday, Apr. 8, 2025.
To develop CAR-dano, he does not work alone.
He partnered with Giga Hidjrika Aura Adkhy, a 2021 student from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Engineering, UGM’s Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), to jointly submit a funding proposal to Project Catalyst IOHK, an organization under the Cardano blockchain ecosystem.
Their proposal succeeded in securing 60,000 ADA, equivalent to more than IDR 1 billion.
Their decision to choose Cardano and Project Catalyst as their funding sources was deliberate.
Adkhy, who also serves as the project manager, said both offered opportunities to develop sustainable, tech-based solutions supported by an active community and strong network.
“Project Catalyst also has a research-oriented approach that aligns with the academic world, which was a major appeal for us,” he said.
In addition to collaborating with Fahmi Hatta Gymnastiar, co-founder of PT Inspeksi Mobil Jogja and fellow 2020 Mechanical Engineering graduate, the CAR-dano team now enjoys full support from a group of UGM students from various programs, each contributing their technical expertise to the project.
Dzikran Azka Sajidan (Computer Science, 2023) and Maulana Anjari Anggorokasih (Information Technology, 2021) are involved in developing blockchain and backend systems.
Farhan Franaka (Information Engineering, 2021) is the front-end engineer who handles the user interface, while Azfar Azdi Arfakhsyad (Electrical Engineering, 2021) manages the UI/UX design.
The CAR-dano project is in its early stages, focusing on research and technological concept development.
During this phase, the team is targeting several short-term goals, including drafting a comprehensive system architecture and building the initial prototype of the blockchain-based used car inspection platform.
Once completed, the project will move on to the next stages: smart contract development, system integration, and thorough security and stability testing.
This entire process is designed systematically to ensure that CAR-dano is functional, secure, and ready for public use.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Photographs: Giga Hidjrika Aura Adkhy
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna