RALEIGH – In partnership with Volvo Car USA and Mastercard, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) is piloting transformative in-vehicle toll payment technology—poised to redefine how drivers pay for tolls and, ultimately, a broad array of everyday services. This innovation eliminates the need for traditional toll transponders, offering a secure, integrated and seamless experience through their vehicle's infotainment system.
The partnership was officially unveiled during the N.C. Transportation Summit on September 4, where leaders from NCTA and pilot partners shared their vision for this pilot and the future of in-vehicle payments during a panel discussion. The pilot sets the foundation for a scalable, future-ready platform with potential applications beyond tolling, including parking, fuel, car washes and more—driven by a state transportation agency with a record of innovation and supported by industry-leading partners.
"We are thrilled to partner with Volvo Car USA and Mastercard on this groundbreaking pilot program," said J.J. Eden, Executive Director of the N.C. Turnpike Authority. "This in-vehicle payment technology represents a significant step forward in making travel more convenient and seamless for drivers. This initiative underscores North Carolina's commitment to innovation and exploring future-ready solutions."
The pilot is powered by a robust and flexible digital architecture:
- Microsoft Azure provides the secure cloud infrastructure supporting real-time transactions.
- Red Hat OpenShift enables a scalable, API-based middleware platform to connect toll agencies and vehicle systems.
- Cognizant serves as the systems integrator, ensuring seamless implementation across technologies.
The in-vehicle toll payment system enables drivers to pay tolls directly through the power of Volvo’s infotainment system, seamlessly and securely—without transponders or back-office friction. Volvo’s significant presence in North Carolina positions them as a perfect partner to pilot this technology.
“At Volvo Cars we’re always looking for ways to make our drivers’ lives less complicated, and we’re proud to partner with NCTA and Mastercard to pilot convenient in-vehicle tolling. Thanks to the advanced level of technology standard on Volvo cars with Google built-in, there’s no need for additional equipment to participate in this pilot program, making this option even more seamless for our customers” said Jim Nichols, Head of Product and Technology at Volvo Car USA.
Mastercard's world-class payment processing revolutionizes convenience and access for customers, and ensures digital payments are frictionless and secure. With Mastercard’s technology, payment and vehicle data are tokenized and processed seamlessly.
“The future of automotive payments has arrived, which is why we are so excited to be launching this pilot with our partners at the North Carolina Turnpike Authority and Volvo Car USA,” said Chapin Flynn, Senior Vice President and Global Urban Mobility Lead at Mastercard. “Our commitment to curating a frictionless mobility experience is paramount and this leap forward will help to shape the evolution of the ecosystem, one intentional innovation at a time.”
In collaboration with Volvo Car USA and Mastercard, the in-vehicle payment system connects the vehicle identification number (VIN) and license plate data to a secure payment token, processes transactions in real time, and integrates directly with tolling infrastructure.
The pilot will include up to 100 participants that drive a Volvo car with Google built-in.
Interested participants can visit the
pilot webpage to stay up to date on pilot registration. The pilot program is expected to begin late 2025.This pilot program is expected to expand into Vehicle to Everything (V2X) technology. V2X represents a paradigm shift in how vehicles interact with their environment. It's about creating a more connected, safer and efficient transportation ecosystem for everyone. V2X will connect vehicles to other vehicles, pedestrians, networks and infrastructure. NCTA plans to build on the in-vehicle payment pilot and continue testing these advances in transportation.
About the North Carolina Turnpike Authority
To help keep pace with the transportation needs of the state, NCTA plays a critical role by studying, planning, developing and building toll facilities on behalf of communities that request them. With innovation and customer-centered service at its core, the Triangle Expressway was the first toll road in the country to utilize all-electronic tolling technology from inception. To learn more about the NCTA, visit
ncdot.gov/divisions/turnpike.