FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Mercedes-Benz Financial announced it has received approximately $2.5 million in payments from customers via their mobile devices since launching its iPhone app last October.

Given this success, the company has decided to launch an iPad app as well.

"Our customers' response to the convenience of managing their accounts with their iPhone or iPod Touch was so overwhelmingly favorable, it convinced us to be ready for new iPad users who are also customers of Mercedes-Benz Financial," explained Andreas Hinrichs, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz Financial.

"When the iPad officially launched last Saturday, an upgrade of the Mercedes-Benz Financial app compatible with the iPad was available for our customers and for Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts. Additional advantages for us include paperless transactions and the resulting cost efficiencies in processing payments," he continued.

According to officials, the iPhone app has resulted in more than 11,000 downloads and 3,000 lease or loan payments since the launch.

To access the mobile features, Mercedes-Benz Financial account holders must first register online at Mercedes-BenzFinancial.com. Detailed instructions are available at www.Mercedes-BenzFinancial.com/mobile. In addition to making payments on either leases or retail loans, customers can also view their account summary and request payoff quotes.

All iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch users, even those who are not Mercedes-Benz Financial customers, will be able to locate the nearest Mercedes-Benz authorized dealer location, contact a customer service representative and see what's new from Mercedes-Benz Financial via the site.

Just last month, Mercedes-Benz Financial announced expanded personalized and convenient account management features to all of its customers using smartphones like BlackBerry, Droid and other mobile devices with Internet capability.

So far, the company said more than 1,000 payments have been received and the mobile Web site, www.Mercedes-BenzFinancial.com/mobile has received over 7,800 visitors.