The partnership between Mercedes and Mastercard enables embedded in-car payments via fingerprint sensor

Mercedes Benz on Sept. 25 announced the launch of its new embedded in-car payment system powered by Mastercard. Dubbed Mersedes Pay+, the technology allows customers to make convenient and secure digital payments using a fingerprint sensor in their car at over 3,600 service stations in Germany.

According to the press release, Mercedes-Benz has become the world’s first automaker to integrate Mastercard Secure Card on File for Commerce Platforms encription technology for online payments into its vehicles.

The technology eliminates the need to enter a PIN or authenticate via mobile device while paying for the fuel. Mercedes owners in Germany would be able to both initiate the fuelling process and finalize a transaction from within the car.

The native in-car payment service Mercedes Pay+ has the fingerprint sensor integrated into the MBUX infotainment system. This way, the device enables biometric two-factor authentication.

When a driver comes to a connected service station and switches off the engine, the Mercedes me Fuel & Pay service starts automatically on the MBUX infotainment system. After selecting the appropriate gas pump, the driver will see the estimated amount of fuel required and its maximum price based on the current fuel price. Instead of authorizing the payment via a mobile device, the driver can now complete a transaction with fingerprint authentication.

With the new collaboration, digital payments authenticated via the fingerprint sensor will support Mastercard debit and credit cards in current Mercedes-Benz models. After refueling, the driver will be able to leave the gas station without having to visit the checkout. The payment finalizes automatically and invoice will be sent to the customer by e-mail.

“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.”

Franz Reiner, Chairman of the Board of Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG

Mercedes-Benz rolled out the Mercedes Pay+ feature in March 2023, in cooperation with Visa to enable in-car payments for digital services and on-demand hardware upgrades. The tool addresses public demand for in-car payments that are currently ranked as a top priority among connected car services.