The Story of the Renault Card Key

The hands-free card is among of the most important inventions to have ever changed the way people travel in cars. Pascaline, the Head of Cross-Cutting Products at Renault Group Products goes over the history of this tiny device.

The origins of the card

A key element in the lives of car owners the hands-free card from Renault has become a global hit. It was first designed in the year 2000 and is now one of the most important innovations of the company. Pascaline, the Head of Cross-Cutting Products in the Products division takes you on a the journey of discovery to find out the background of this useful tool.

In 2001, the Laguna II, a saloon that aimed at capturing the essence of ‘lifestyle’ driving, was introduced into production. It was a period of great innovation, with numerous new equipment options that allowed customers to enjoy the full advantages of their vehicle.

The occupants were still required to use keys to open and close their doors. This was a real problem for many and Renault engineers determined to do something about the issue.

The result was that they decided to include the use of a contactless keycard into their vehicles. They then developed a system that would enable drivers to unlock and start their vehicles by simply waving a hand. The result is the key card, which is now present on the majority of Renault vehicles. Whether it’s located in the ignition barrel, or on the centre console the car will unlock when the card is near and will lock automatically when moved away. This is a genuine Renault remote control key card (without the blade). It is supplied individually clam packed and ready to be programmed using Abrites diagnostics for Renault/ Dacia software with the ProTAG programmer.

The design

A Renault key card, or even remote car keys can be a great convenience to have in our everyday lives. However, these devices are susceptible to malfunction due to wear and tear or being dropped. It can be a frustrating experience when this happens. There are a variety of ways to replace your Renault key card. renault car key replacement is to contact your dealership. It can take a long time and may be costly. A professional locksmith is an alternative option.

SR Key Solutions has the required equipment to program and create Renault keys and cards. We can replace your keys at a price that is less expensive than what a dealer would cost. We can also make it faster than a dealer.

This product is compatible for the Renault Laguna II (keyless entry), Espace 4 (keyless entry) and Vel Satis (keyless entrance system). It will protect your card and gives it a stylish appearance. It is available in two colors and can be personalized with your VIN or a logo. It can be attached to a standard keychain or put inside the key case. This is an authentic Renault part and is only compatible with the vehicle for the purpose for which it was ordered. Please include your VIN when you place an order to ensure that the correct key is delivered.

The technology

Renault key cards are equipped with transponder chips as well as a low-frequency communication feature. This allows the card to communicate with your car. The chips are susceptible to cracking due to regular use, and are extremely expensive to repair or replace them at a dealer. We can repair or replace your Renault key card for only a fraction of the dealer price.

The first hands-free card was introduced in 2001, in the Laguna II saloon. This car was conceived as the lifestyle car of the 21st Century. But, despite a thorough design brief that was based on more than 6000 customer interviews that examined their lifestyles, habits and expectations, Renault ran out of time to create prototypes and test every possible uses.

Luckily, the product lead on Laguna II, Bernard Dumondel was staying in an hotel at the time. He was using his room key to unlock his car. He believed that a car key could be created using the same magnetic strip that was used to make the key.

In the years to come the card was seen as a revolutionary invention and is now used on two of three Renault vehicles. Renault has decided to utilize the new features of smartphones to enhance the hands-free card, even when it appears that they are soon to replace it.

The keyless entry system

The hands-free card of Renault was a groundbreaking piece of technology when it was introduced 20 years ago. The exterior is identical, but the technology has been improved to make it more user-friendly and more secure to hack.

Firstly, it can’t be used to unlock the doors or start the engine from outside the vehicle unless it is activated by the driver. The reason for this is that radio signal antennae “around” the car are configured to detect the presence of the key outside or inside. The key can still turn on the ignition from a distance but will not open the doors. This is for your safety.

The other thing to note is that the wireless remote control transmissions of the system make use of a rolling code. This reduces the chance of security being compromised by someone who intercepts and retransmits a control message to gain access but it does not eliminate the threat completely. [1]

If your Megane’s key fob suddenly stops working – especially after you have dropped it on the floor – it could be an indication that the receiver module has developed a fault. If this is the case, you’ll need to replace it with a genuine Renault replacement. Click the ‘Key Programming Information above to learn more. Customers who are involved in the locksmith or motor trade can register for a trade account and enjoy a special price.