Newer Mercedes-Benz Models To Become Payment Devices

"There are some things money can't buy; for everything else, there's Mastercard," said a famous advertising clip we have seen on TV and online. Mercedes-Benz took it very seriously. Mastercard liked that.

There was a time when we used to have cars coming from the factory with dedicated space for coins. In some markets, it happens even today. Some models have a space somewhere dedicated to change. If your car doesn't have one, aftermarket solutions can fill that void.

But our world is unfit for those who still like to stop at tolls and count their coins. Time is money, and we all have 24 hours in a day. Most people try to squeeze as much productivity as possible into their working day. Mercedes-Benz is coming forward with a Mastercard-powered solution to help them save a couple of more minutes for things that matter. Arguably, it can also serve as a safety feature.

The Stuttgart-based automaker has built an e-commerce platform into its infotainment system. It became known late last year when Mercedes-Benz tried to sell its affluent customers a yearly subscription for more power. Since then, it has introduced the option to unlock the full capabilities of some of its EVs with a one-time payment. The feedback was heard, and the brand acted.

However, Mercedes-Benz wants to make better use of the advanced MBUX infotainment. It has partnered with Mastercard to develop a solution that allows the automaker's customers with a Mercedes Me account to pay for gas from within the car.

When they enter an eligible gas station, the mechanism starts automatically. The driver must select the right gas pump, and the sensors will calculate the maximum total amount based on the current fuel price and the amount of fuel when the tank is full.

After filling up, the driver sees the amount of gas that went into the tank and the invoice. Mercedes-Benz uses a live feed that has all the current fuel prices.

All they need to do is put their pre-registered finger on the biometric authentication button (fingerprint sensor) to confirm the charge. They don't have to interact with anyone. Also, there's no need to take the phone out to access a bank app or use a PIN to confirm a payment. It's seamless.

In some recent Mercedes-Benz models, the fingerprint sensor was an option. Owners of such cars will have to use their phone and scan a QR code to confirm the payment.

The system will be available at 3,600 gas stations in Germany but will expand to other markets in due course. It'll work on Mercedes-Benz models manufactured in 2020 and later.

Mercedes-Benz says it made sure that customer data is stored securely and specifically mentioned that it complies with all European regulations regarding payment authentication.

A company representative said that such a feature comes in handy when you must pay for parking or other things that might require the driver's attention. Instead of having to memorize everything, send texts, use apps, or who knows what else, the car asks you if you want to pay. If the answer is yes, just put the finger on the square black button, and the payment is solved.

"As the technology advances, we have a lot of ideas about what drivers and passengers would like to use. We’re working hard to keep giving our customers the most valuable gift: their own time," explained a company official.

Mercedes-Benz says a Mastercard study discovered that young people (18- to 39-year-olds) indicated they would like to have such a feature in their vehicles.

However, "Fuel & Pay" can't happen anywhere. The gas stations need to be "connected fuel stations." Thus, at least one sensor is required for it to work.

We can see this feature becoming a great thing for EVs. Instead of plug-and-play, you just pre-authorize a certain amount of kWh from inside the car, and you'll know when to unplug and park elsewhere.

Finally, even though the feature was developed in partnership with Mastercard, Visa cards will also work. Since all this is just a European thing, for now, the feature accepts only debit cards.