GM Adds Shell Fuel Payment to Marketplace App

General Motors Co. is expanding the capability of its in-vehicle Marketplace app to allow users to pay for fuel at select Shell stations from within their vehicle.

The fuel feature is being pilot tested by Chevrolet at select Shell stations in the Detroit, Seattle and Houston metropolitan areas. GM intends to roll out the system to more than 14,000 stations nationwide this summer.

GM downloaded the app into nearly 2 million new Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles in December and expects to double that total by year-end. The voice-activated Marketplace feature, which appears as an icon on a vehicle’s central touchscreen display, can be used to make reservations, find nearby stores and complete purchases from third-party vendors.

At launch, GM listed a dozen partners. The list included Shell and Exxon Mobil, but the app merely helped drivers find nearby fueling stations and sign up for rewards programs.

To use the new fuel purchase feature, drivers press the Shell icon on the dashboard Marketplace app and select the desired location. A code is generated to activate the designated fuel pump. After refueling is completed, the payment is automatically charged to the user’s account.