Mercedes enables drivers in Germany to use fingerprint authentication for making payments within the car ⋆

Mercedes enables drivers in Germany to use fingerprint authentication for making payments within the car

Since March 2023, customers in Germany are able to pay for digital services and on-demand hardware upgrades in the Mercedes me Store using a fingerprint sensor in the car. This so-called “native” in-car payment enables biometric two-factor authentication with the new digital payment service Mercedes pay+. It is no longer required to enter a password or scan a QR code in order to authenticate a payment directly from the car.

Payment processing directly from the car is an essential aspect for an exclusive and seamless customer experience. The global ePayment platform Mercedes pay enables customers to order and pay for digital extras, hardware and software upgrades directly from their car.

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 pay+ will be available in further European markets in the future

“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. By introducing native e-commerce into the car, we are once again pioneers and at the beginning of a promising development.” said Franz Reiner CEO at Mercedes-Benz Mobility.

Upgrade of digital services and on-demand functions with one touch

Customers can use the native in-car payment to pay for digital services that allow a more convenient and entertaining driving experience. They can activate and subscribe to these digital services from the car’s MBUX infotainment system and authorize the payment transaction with their fingerprint. Examples of these digital services are connectivity apps that control the comfort functions of the car, such as pre-air conditioning of the vehicle via a mobile device. Upgrades to the vehicle software can easily be activated and paid for via fingerprint, like, for example, advanced navigation services that provide information on the weather or available parking spaces at the customer’s destination.

Mercedes me Store

In addition, the Mercedes me Store offers the ability to unlock pre-installed hardware components easily on-demand by fingerprint in the car. For example, a vehicle owner can subscribe to Remote Parking Assist, a service to park the vehicle remotely with a smartphone or activate and pay for the Adaptive Highbeam Assist or the Rear Axle Steering with a larger steering angle with only one touch.

The portfolio of digital services and on-demand features in the Mercedes me Store is constantly expanding, offering customers the opportunity to personalize 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.

The technology behind Mercedes pay+

Mercedes-Benz is the world’s first car manufacturer to use Visa’s Delegated Authentication and Visa Cloud Token Framework technology to enable secure native in-car payment.

Visa Cloud Tokens provide an extra layer of security in this process as they protect and encrypt sensitive payment information by converting and securely storing data.