Mastercard and Mercedes launch in-car payments

Mercedes customers in Germany can now use their fingerprints, and their cars, when they next go to fill up their tank.

The in-car payment service through ‘Mercedes pay+’ is powered by Mastercard and is live at more than 3,600 service stations in Germany, with plans to expand to other European markets soon.

Drivers now won’t have to enter a PIN or authenticate their payment through their phone, and instead will be able to pay from their car with a fingerprint sensor integrated into the Mercedes-Benz ‘infotainment’ system.

“Digital payments are coming of age, and consumers want to embrace new forms that are infused into their everyday experiences and activities,” Mastercard chief digital officer Jorn Lambert said.

“Through our dynamic payments technology, we are proud to work hand in hand with Mercedes-Benz to bring safer, smarter, and more intelligent commerce experiences to its vehicles.”

Mercedez-Benz board chairman Franz Reiner said the company is already working on integrating further services.

According to the company, GfK research showed around half of 18-to-39 year olds would order and pay for services and goods directly through their car, primarily wanting to use it for everyday car-related services like fuel or vehicle charging.

“From now on, [customers] can pay their fuel bill directly from their car using their fingerprint — simply, securely, and conveniently,” Reiner said.

“An intuitive payment process and a best-in-class customer experience lay the foundation for the success of digital offerings.”

Mercedes plans to expand to other vehicle-related services soon.

The partnership with Mastercard follows Visa’s integration with CarIQ two months ago, which similarly allows customers to pay for fuel from the comfort of their car, but is specifically targeting fleets of vehicles in the US.