Toyota to Offer Mobile Car Payments through Pingit (Jan. 23, 2014)
Toyota owners in the U.K. can make car payments via mobile device, now that the automaker has signed on with the Barclays Pingit mobile payment app. Toyota is the first car manufacturer to join the Pingit fold, according to Barclays. The automaker will offer the payment service through its financing arm, Toyota Financial Services, to enable customers to “make quick, easy and secure … payments on their plans by using a smartphone or tablet.” The Pingit app is free to download and can be used by anyone with a U.K. mobile phone number and U.K. bank account.
“Ease and convenience are key factors when it comes to making payments and with mobile activity on the rise, it’s important for companies to consider mobile payment options as part of their offering,” said Mike Walters, head of U.K. corporate transactions product, Barclays.
Initially launched in April 2012 as a P2P mobile payments service, Pingit recently has expanded to offer additional payment types. In September 2013, Barclays added a pair of functions aimed at mobile shoppers; a mobile checkout function that enables merchants to add a “Pay with Pingit” button and a QR code-based shopping tool. In November, Barclays unveiled a new B2C feature that enables large firms to send payments to individuals for insurance claims, utility refunds or other corporate payments.
