Mercedes pay+ makes it easier for some, but the cynical will see it differently.
Mercedes-Benz has a reputation for being on the leading edge of car technology. This week they take things a step further by introducing native in-car payments. This allows Mercedes-Benz customers to pay for digital services directly from their infotainment system using the fingerprint sensor.
The global transaction volume of in-vehicle payments is expected to exceed 4.7 billion by 2026, with paying for fuel/charging accounting for around 48 percent of total in-vehicle payment transactions by volume. The new digital payment service, called Mercedes pay+, offers biometric two-factor authentication, eliminating the need for customers to enter a PIN on the MBUX infotainment system or use an additional mobile device. This means that the car itself becomes a payment device, enabling customers to authorise payment transactions with their fingerprints.
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. Mercedes-Benz is the first car manufacturer worldwide to integrate Visa’s Delegated Authentication and Cloud Token Framework technology, providing an additional layer of security by encrypting sensitive payment information.
Of course, Mercedes-Benz aren’t just introducing this payment system to make paying for fuel more hassle-free. They’re also going to allow customers to activate and subscribe to additional features that are present but digitally locked off on their vehicles. Want your new EQS to have a tighter turning radius? How about pre-air conditioning for those hot days? Thumbprint here, please!
The portfolio of digital services and on-demand features in the Mercedes me Store is constantly expanding, offering customers the opportunity to personalise their vehicles further even after the purchase. This is of interest, for example, to the second or third owners of a vehicle as it gives them the opportunity to adapt pre-owned vehicles to personal needs and desires.
Cardholders with an eligible Visa credit or debit card can use native in-car payment by linking their card with their Mercedes me user account and activating Mercedes pay+ in the vehicle via MBUX. Subsequently, more card systems will be added and enabled for Mercedes pay+. Mercedes-Benz plans to launch Mercedes pay+ in other European markets in 2023. It is unknown when Mercedes pay+ will come to the Malaysian market or if it will come here at all.
