A CAR that pays for the fuel itself through an onboard app is just one slice of hands-free technology that is available today and will be joined by a series of handy apps to be trickled down to Jaguar Land Rover owners.

The latest feature was introduced in the UK this week in a deal done between Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Shell. It works via an app that is downloaded into the car’s infotainment system and when the fuel tank is getting low, will prompt the driver to follow the sat-nav to the nearest Shell station.

Payment for the fuel – that currently remains the labour-intensive bit – is done through the same app by deducting the fuel cost from the owner’s credit card.

JLR said this week that it would be rolled out to other markets outside the UK. GoAutoNews Premium asked JLR Australia for comment and was told it’s on the cards – just not yet.

JLR Australia product public relations manager James Scrimshaw said, “we’ll be looking at it when it is available for Australia. It has only just started in the UK”.

“I expect that it is most likely to be here in 2018 and there is still some testing to be done before we announce it for Australia,” he said.

Jaguar Land Rover said in a statement that its “new in-car cashless payment app will be available across every Jaguar … equipped with Jaguar InControl Apps, as well as the latest Land Rover models fitted with Land Rover InControl Apps.”

The Shell app, downloaded to the InControl infotainment system, can locate the nearest Shell station using the car’s navigation system.

The driver can then choose the grade and amount of fuel from the comfort of their car using the Shell app.

JLR in the UK said the transaction is processed using a PayPal or Apple Pay account with Android Pay to be added later this year.

“Upon purchase, a receipt is displayed on the infotainment system screen and can also be sent to a preferred email address for integration into expense-tracking software,” JLR said.

This will be the first cashless transaction from the driver’s seat.

JLR director of connected car and future technology, Peter Virk, said the company was working with other companies “to enable our customers to enjoy cashless motoring via their car’s touchscreen”.

“Whether it’s paying for fuel, parking, tolls, or even at a drive-through restaurant, the aim of cashless motoring is to make life easier for our customers,” he said.

JLR opened the program for owners of 2018 Jaguar F-Pace, XE, and XF vehicles in the UK. It will now expand the models and the available services.

By Neil Dowling