(R)EVOLUTION - First keyless ignition systems – Towards hands-free access

First keyless ignition systems – Towards hands-free access

At the turn of the 1980s, the automobile entered a new era with the gradual introduction of on-board electronics. Among the innovations that profoundly transformed the relationship between the driver and their car, one of the most significant was undoubtedly the advent of keyless entry and ignition systems.

Until then, motorists had used a traditional key, inserted into the lock and then into the ignition, to access their vehicle and start the engine. It was a familiar gesture, but also restrictive and vulnerable to theft attempts. The first prototypes tested by certain manufacturers in the late 1970s and early 1980s offered a new approach: replacing the key with a card or badge containing an electronic chip capable of communicating with the vehicle.

This device radically changed the ergonomics. There was no longer any need to insert a key into the lock: simply presenting the card or badge unlocked the doors. Once inside, electronic authentication allowed the engine to be started without the use of a metal key. This new method of access combined convenience and security, making traditional methods of theft considerably more difficult.

Initially reserved for high-end models, this technology quickly appealed to manufacturers, who saw it as a way to enhance the value of their vehicles while boosting driver confidence. The 1990s and 2000s saw the emergence of modern keyless systems based on proximity sensors. Users no longer even need to take the card or electronic key out of their pocket: the vehicle detects their presence and unlocks automatically. The engine is then started at the touch of a button, bringing unprecedented fluidity to everyday use.

Over time, these devices have been enhanced with new advanced authentication features. Encrypted codes, secure electronic protocols and coded exchanges between the key and the vehicle provide enhanced protection against intrusion. Some models even integrate mobile applications or biometric systems, extending the initial idea to ever smarter and more personalised solutions.

Today, keyless access and ignition have become standard features on a large number of vehicles, well beyond the premium segment. For motorists, the benefits are obvious: greater simplicity, comfort and safety. But behind this now commonplace gesture lies an innovation that emerged more than forty years ago, the result of a combination of electronics and ergonomics, which has profoundly changed the way we interact with cars.