Mercedes' New In-Car Payment Makes Paying For Gas A Lot Easier

Mercedes-Benz has partnered with Mastercard to introduce a new in-car payment method for customers in Germany. Owners will now be able to make secure and convenient payments for their fuel, with more than 3,600 gas stations across the country partaking in the new service.

Here's how it works. Once you arrive at a connected gas station and turn the engine off, the Mercedes me Fuel & Pay service will automatically pop up on the vehicle's infotainment system. Here, the driver can select the necessary gas pump, with the Fuel & Pay service calculating the final amount based on the gas price and amount of fuel pumped into the tank.

Instead of paying with a card, cash, or mobile device, the owner completes the transaction via fingerprint authentication. The invoice is then displayed on the MBUX screen and later emailed to the customer.

This brings a new level of convenience to the Mercedes ownership experience. Instead of walking to the checkout and queueing, customers can return to their comfortable C-Class and set off quickly. Mercedes says this is the first use case for native in-car payments at a specific point of sale and adds that it's the first manufacturer to incorporate Mastercard's Secure Car in File for Commerce system in a vehicle.

"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," said Franz Reiner, Chairman of the Board of Mercedes-Benz Mobility. "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."

There's no word yet on whether this technology will be introduced in America, but we expect it will be offered locally in the coming years. After all, the automaker's sophisticated Level 3 autonomous Drive Pilot system was first made available in Germany. It has since been introduced in certain US regions.

The new in-car payment method is similar to the various EV charge and pay systems cropping up. Last year, General Motors launched a new Plug and Charge service to make life easier for electric vehicle owners. GM's new service allows drivers to top up their batteries without using a mobile app. It's simple to set up and makes the charging process more convenient.

We wonder if Mercedes will use the in-car payment system for its branded charging network, coming to America before the end of this year.