On day two at MOVE America 2024, experts from Mercedes, Nissan, J.P. Morgan, and Nomura Greentech discussed the evolving role of digital wallets in the connected car economy. The panel explored how in-car payments are simplifying services like parking, tolling, and fueling, while also posing new challenges for automakers and financial institutions.
Jana Breitkopf, Managing Director of Mercedes Pay, highlighted the importance of enhancing the customer experience. “Digital wallets are the natural solution for seamless, secure transactions,” she said. “Paying from the dashboard eliminates the inconvenience of entering card details and boosts security. People just want to complete their transaction quickly and easily.”
Nandith Nandakumar, Deputy Program Director for Connected Car Services at Nissan North America, agreed but emphasized safety concerns. “We need to ensure a seamless and safe experience for our customers. If they encounter one bad interaction, they may never use the system again,” he noted.
Richard Hawwa, Managing Director at Nomura Greentech, questioned the necessity of vehicle-based payments. “Why should payments go through the car?” he asked. “Automakers should focus on building great cars, and banks should manage the digital wallets. The real value lies in payments for parking and tolling, not just fueling.”
Rob Abrams, Global Head of Mobility Payments at J.P. Morgan, spoke about the integration of various services. “The true innovation is bringing payments for parking, tolling, and fueling together. The best outcome is when users forget there’s a bank involved—it just works,” he explained.
As automakers and financial institutions collaborate, it’s clear that digital wallets are not only simplifying transactions but also transforming the way drivers interact with their vehicles.
Panel – “How digital wallets are driving the connected car economy”
- Jana Breitkopf, Managing Director, Mercedes Pay
- Nandith Nandakumar, Deputy Program Director, Connected Car Services, Nissan North America
- Rob Abrams, Global Head of Mobility Payments, JP Morgan
- Richard Hawwa, Managing Director and Head of Mobility & Automotive Technology, Nomura Greentech
- Moderator: Sam Abuelsamid, Senior Contributor, Forbes
