The Story of the Renault Card Key
The hands-free card is one of the most significant inventions to have ever changed the way people use cars. Pascaline, Head Cross-Cutting Products for Renault Group Products talks us through the background and development of this compact device.
The history behind the card
A crucial part of the daily lives of car owners the hands-free card from Renault has become a global phenomenon. The first time it was designed, 20 years ago it's one of the top innovations from the company. Pascaline is the head of Cross-Cutting Products in the Products division takes you on a journey of discovery to find out the background of this handy tool.
It was in 2001 when the Laguna II, a saloon that aimed at capturing the essence of 'lifestyle' driving, came into production. It was a period of tremendous innovation, featuring a host of new equipment attributes that enabled customers reap the full benefits of their vehicle.
However, the owners of these cars still had to utilize keys to open and close their doors. This was a real stumbling block for many people and Renault engineers were determined to address the issue.
So, they decided to put the use of a contactless keycard into their vehicles and develop an system that would allow drivers to open and start their cars by merely waving the hand. The key card is now found in two out of three Renault vehicles. The car will automatically unlock when the card is close to the ignition barrel, or the central console. This is an original Renault remote control card (without blade). It comes individually packed and ready to programme using Abrites diagnostics for Renault/ Dacia software with the ProTAG programmer.
The design
A Renault key card or an auto remote key can be a great convenience in our everyday lives. Unfortunately, these products can fail due to wear and wear or being dropped. It can be very frustrating when this occurs. There are, however, several options to replace your Renault key card. Contacting your dealer is one option. renault card key replacement could take a while and can be expensive. A professional locksmith is another option.
SR Key Solutions is fully equipped to manufacture and program Renault keys and cards. We can provide you with the replacement for your current key at a lower cost than the dealer would charge. We can also do it quicker than an agent.
This product is compatible for the Renault Laguna II (keyless entry), Espace 4 (keyless entry) and Vel Satis (keyless entrance system). It is designed to protect your keycard while giving it a nice design. It is available in two colors and can be personalised with your VIN, logo, etc. It can be used with a standard keychain or placed inside a key case. This is an original Renault product that is designed to be compatible with the vehicle you have ordered. Please supply your VIN when you order to ensure that the correct key is delivered.
The technology
Renault key cards contain transponder chips inside. They also have an option for low frequency communication that allows the card to communicate with your vehicle. These chips can crack from normal use, and it's extremely costly to replace or repair them at the dealer. We can repair or replace your Renault key card for a fraction of the dealership price.
The hands-free card was initially launched in 2001 on the Laguna II saloon, which was designed to represent the "lifestyle" car of the 21st century. However, despite an in-depth design brief that was based on more than 6,000 customer surveys that looked at their lifestyles, habits, and expectations, Renault ran out of time to create prototypes and test every possible uses.
Bernard Dumondel was the product leader of Laguna II at the time. He used the hotel room key to unlock the car. As the key featured an extremely small magnetic strip, the product lead thought it might be possible to make an auto key that operated in a similar way.
In the following years, the card was hailed a revolutionary invention and is now found on two of three Renault vehicles. Renault has chosen to use the latest features of smartphones to improve the hands-free card, the fact that it appears they are about to replace it.
The keyless entry system
The hands free card of Renault was a revolutionary piece of technology when it was introduced 20 years ago. Its exterior is still identical, but the technology inside has received several improvements to make it more user-friendly as well as harder to hack.
It's not able to be used from outside to unlock doors or start the car unless the driver is able to activate it. This is because radio antennae "around the car" are programmed to detect whether the key is inside or outside. The key can still turn on the ignition from a distance however, it won't unlock the doors. This is to protect you.
The second is that the wireless remote control transmissions of the system employ a rolling-code. This reduces the risk of someone intercepting the control message and retransmitting it in order to gain access, but it does not remove it. [1]
If the key fob on your Megane suddenly ceases to function, particularly after you've dropped it on the floor, it could be a sign that the receiver module has failed. If this is the scenario, you'll have to replace it with an authentic Renault replacement. For more information, click the 'Key Programming Information tab above. Customers who are in the locksmith or motor trade can apply for a trade account, and enjoy special pricing.