Mercedes-Benz partners with Mastercard for in-car payments

Car manufacturer Mercedez-Benz has partnered with Mastercard to launch an in-car payments solution – meaning customers can fill up their cars and complete payment from behind the wheel. 

The embedded in-car payments solution leverages fingerprint sensor technology, and will first be rolled out in Germany at over 3,600 service stations.

This partnership marks the first use of fingerprint payment authorisation for native in-car payments at a point of sale. It also makes Mercedes the first automaker to integrate Mastercard Secure Card on File for Commerce Platforms technology for in-vehicle online payments.

The future of embedded finance: In-car payments

Mercedes’ new in-car payments solution comes courtesy of its Mercedes pay+ division, which was launched in 2018 to make Mercedes vehicles a payments device as well as a car. 

Its proprietary fingerprint technology will be integrated into the MBUX infotainment system and allow for transaction data to be encrypted using uniquely assigned cryptograms, thus protecting sensitive payment information.

The system works automatically, so when a driver reaches a fuelling station, the Mercedes Me Fuel & Pay service automatically starts on the MBUX infotainment system. Drivers can then select the appropriate gas pump and will be shown a calculated maximum total price amount based on current fuel prices – before refuelling has even started.

Once refuelled, drivers will see an invoice amount to their Mastercard debit or credit card on the MBUX display.

The service is now live with Mastercard debit and credit cards in current Mercedes models; although of course, it is currently only available at select service stations in Germany that will accept this form of payment.

Eligible consumers can use their German-issued debit or credit Mastercard by registering it in the Mercedes Me user account and activating it in-car through Mercedes pay+ on the MBUX infotainment system.

Speaking on the latest product, Franz Reiner, Chairman of the Board of Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG, says: "With Mercedes pay+, we are making everyday life easier for our customers. 

“From now on, they can pay their fuel bill directly from their car using their fingerprint - simply, securely, and conveniently. An intuitive payment process and a best-in-class customer experience lay the foundation for the success of digital offerings. 

“We are pioneers in native in-car payment and are already working on the integration of further services."

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