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12 Nov, 2020

Mastercard now usable as Shanghai Metro App, eliminating ticket purchase

Singapore, November 10, 2020 (Source: media release) – Shanghai Shentong Metro Group recently partnered with Mastercard to launch a card-on-file service for its Shanghai Metro App, which allows overseas travellers to use their Mastercard cards to access the metro system in Shanghai, positioning the group as China’s first urban public transportation system to accept international credit card transactions.

Targeting Mastercard cardholders — full-time foreign employees and overseas travellers in particular — this cooperation provides simple metro access through the Shanghai Metro App, eliminating the need to purchase tickets. By filing their cards to the app, Mastercard cardholders can enjoy the same simple, safe and smart experiences — notably tap & go and post-payment — as Shanghai residents.

The service is already online, benefiting all cardholders with overseas-issued Mastercard cards. And Mastercard is striving to bring this level of convenience to other scenarios including tourism, shopping and dining.

Dennis Chang, Division President, China, Mastercard, said: “It is our honour to collaborate with Shanghai Shentong Metro Group to provide cardholders with convenient public transportation services in Shanghai. On the occasion of the third China International Import Expo, this collaboration is happening at just at the right time. Mastercard first entered the Chinese market three decades ago, and is glad to now have the chance to help Chinese tourism better align with international standards and is fully committed to playing an active role in China’s efforts to forge a global, interconnected payments ecosystem and enable Shanghai’s ambitions to achieve the titles of ‘Five International Centres’ (Economy, Finance, Trade, Shipping and T&I).”

Shu Shizhong, President of Lakala Payment, said: “As an important partner of Mastercard, Lakala Payment is honoured to provide the payments infrastructure, risk control and technological support for this filing service. Together with the relevant parties, we expect to create a new metro experience in Shanghai for overseas travellers and build a new payments ecosystem for intelligent public transportation. As an emerging beacon of the payments industry, we will continually improve our technological innovation to better enable customers and realize ecological fusion through consolidation of various resources.”

Being involved in the construction of international and inclusive cities is an important part of Mastercard’s long-term strategy of effectively promoting wider coverage of digital payments and allowing consumers to enjoy safe, smart and simple payment experiences during their travels around the world. Over the past decade, by closely collaborating with city authorities, transport sectors and technology companies across the globe, Mastercard has actively devoted itself to designing flexible and innovative commuting solutions, achieving a leading position in next-generation mobile service trends.

In more than 150 cities around the world and together with local governments, Mastercard has built various open public transportation payment systems and effectively promoted contactless payments, embedding digital payments into local infrastructure. From riding public transportation to going out to eat or shop, the diverse daily needs of consumers can be easily met using just a Mastercard card. These efforts are not only strengthening seamless connections across different platforms in commerce but also enabling higher efficiency and transparency as well as levels of management and control.