Drivers in America can now use Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant to pay for their fuel at thousands of filling stations across the country.

Amazon has teamed up with Exxon-Mobil (branded Esso in the UK) so that consumers with Alexa-enabled vehicles, devices like Echo Auto, or the Alexa app on smartphones can simply say, pay and be on their way when they fuel up at an Exxon or Mobil station.

When customers pull up to the pump and say, “Alexa, pay for gas,” Alexa will confirm the station location, pump number, and then activate the pump. The customer can then select the fuel grade on the pump and begin fuelling, with payment completed automatically after fuelling. Payments are made digitally via Amazon Pay, allowing consumers to securely use the payment method associated with their Amazon account; no additional sign-up or separate account is required.

“Changing consumer expectations and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are accelerating demand for contactless payment interactions that span digital and physical worlds,” said Devin McGranahan, senior group president, Global Business Solutions at Fiserv, which provides the digital commerce technology. “The age of omnicommerce is here, and voice-activated smart devices are playing a pivotal role in enabling people to make purchases with speed, ease and convenience.”

“At Amazon, we’re always looking for ways to make our customers’ lives easier whether at home or on-the-go,” added Patrick Gauthier, vice president of Amazon Pay. “While travel looks different today than it ever has before, we’re excited to be working with ExxonMobil and Fiserv on this unique and delightful experience that enables customers to securely pay for gas using just their voice with Amazon Alexa and Amazon Pay.”

Experience tells us that these innovations quickly follow to the UK, thanks in part to the lack of language barrier.