In partnership with ExxonMobil and fintech provider Fiserv, Amazon today launched an Alexa feature that lets users pay for gas using a voice command. The integration was first announced in January at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show, but today marks its rollout at over 11,500 Exxon and Mobil stations across the U.S.
Starting today, customers with Alexa-enabled vehicles, Alexa-enabled devices like Echo Auto and Echo Buds, or the Alexa app on Android or iOS can say “Alexa, pay for gas” to have Alexa confirm their station location and pump number. Confirming the location and number will activate the pump, after which customers can optionally select the fuel grade and begin fueling.
Amazon says that transactions are made securely through Amazon Pay and powered by Fiserv; Fiserv handles things like geo-location at Exxon and Mobil stations, pump activation, payment processing, and payment tokenization. It’ll conveniently default to the primary payment method associated with customers’ accounts (excepting Amazon gift cards), but Exxon notes on its website that there’s currently no way to earn Exxon Mobile Rewards+ points.
Amazon says that access to the new feature — which doesn’t work with Echo devices “built for at-home use” including the Echo, Echo Show, and Echo Dot — can be secured behind a 4-digit voice PIN if customers so choose, which can be set up through the Account Settings screen in the Alexa app. The company also makes clear that the name, email address, payment, location, and other Amazon account information required to support the transaction will be shared with ExxonMobil at payment time.
The launch of Alexa-powered payments at ExxonMobil stations comes after Amazon debuted partnerships allowing users in the U.S. to pay participating utilities with information stored in their Amazon account. Coinciding with the launch, a complementary bill management feature will roll out to Alexa-enabled devices in the U.S.
