Mercedes, Mastercard add fingerprint payments to cars

Mercedes and Mastercard have launched a payment system that lets drivers authenticate and complete purchases from the vehicle using a fingerprint sensor built into the car’s console. The feature is initially available at 3,600 service stations in Germany and is part of a partnership to extend payment options inside connected cars.

The system lets drivers start a payment flow from the vehicle, confirm identity with the built-in fingerprint reader and finish transactions without using a pump terminal or a smartphone app. Mercedes says the service covers fueling, charging, parking and other services that the company expects will be discoverable via the dashboard.

A critic wrote, “I understand the technology, I just don’t want it.” Critics point out that many drivers leave a vehicle to refuel and can use contactless cards or mobile wallets at the pump. They also note that smartphones already store payment cards, authentication and delivery details and remain with the user after they leave the car.

Supporters highlight parking as a clear use case. A vehicle that recognises it has entered a paid parking area and then handles entry and payment without an app, ticket or barrier interaction would remove steps from the process. Some service stations that require pre-authorisation to enable a pump could also use vehicle-based payment to start fueling.

Concerns also focus on potential distraction and redundancy. Adding checkout prompts and more menus to vehicle displays that already show navigation, media and vehicle information could increase notifications and choices on the dashboard. Manufacturers and payment firms are continuing to develop in-car commerce features as part of a wider trend to embed payments in connected vehicles.