Mercedes-Benz uses Visa’s technology to power in-car payments

Mercedes-Benz has introduced native in-car payments for its customers in Germany, using Visa’s ‘delegated authentication’ and Visa ‘Cloud Token Framework’ technology.

The carmaker said the new technology turns the car “into a payment device”.

The new digital payment service, Mercedes pay+, came into effect in Germany this month, and means customers are able to authenticate payments via an in-car fingerprint sensor to pay for digital services and on-demand hardware upgrades in the Mercedes ‘me Store’.

It removes the need for drivers to type in a PIN on the MBUX infotainment system, or to use an additional mobile device to verify a payment in the car, the company said.

Cardholders with an eligible Visa credit or debit card can link their card with their Mercedes user account and activate Mercedes pay+ in the vehicle via MBUX.

Mercedes-Benz confirmed that it intends to rollout in-car fingerprint payments to other services, such as fuelling, as well as to other European markets later this year.

Franz Reiner, chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz Mobility, said: “Mercedes-Benz becomes a software-driven company that provides a digital, seamless experience to customers. Therefore, our digital services have to be intuitive, convenient and secure.

“This is why we have established Mercedes pay+ as a modern and secure payment solution. As such, we are creating a completely new, enhanced customer experience.”

In announcing the launch of Mercedes pay+, the company referred to a study by Juniper Research which has predicted the global transaction volume of in-vehicle payments will reach more than 4.7 billion by 2026, up from 87 million in 2021.

The first Mercedes-Benz models available with fingerprint sensors are the EQS and EQE series, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and C-Class, and the new GLC.

“Making your car a secure and fully authenticated payment device brings new ways to enhance journeys and, looking ahead, we can imagine many moments where in-car payments could smoothen the driver experience,” added Albrecht Kiel, regional managing director, Central Europe, at Visa.