Mobile payment to cover China’s manual-toll-collection expressways in 2019

BEIJING — China will enable mobile payment services on all its manual toll collection lanes on expressways by the end of 2019, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Jan 24.

The alternative payment service is already universally available in provincial regions like Shangdong and Henan and piloted in places including Beijing and Guangdong, MOT spokesperson Wu Chungeng told a conference.

Wu said the service would improve transport network efficiency and reduce logistic costs.

China is the world’s largest mobile payment service market, with both tech and financial giants promoting their own tools to make easier payment for daily shopping, dining and commuting.

The government will also speed up expansion of electronic toll collection for faster and greener transport.