Car keys

1900: First swivel switches

In 1900, the launch of the car was a difficult process and consisted of about ten stages, which only an experienced driver could. And turning on the ignition using the rotary switch was one of them. So the hijackers had to be pretty determined.

1910: Birth of a car key

1910 was marked by the birth of a car key in the broadest sense and was the beginning of a long history of preventing car thefts. The keys were used to block the electric ignition circuit, but drivers still had to start the engine separately.

1920s: The beginning of locking cars

In the 1920s, drivers mastered the practice of locking a car, but this required a separate key. The ignition trigger switch also gradually became the norm. He not only blocked the electrical circuit, but also started the starter. As soon as the key was removed, the steering wheel was locked. It's a given for us, but it was high-tech at the time.

Gold Key for Queen of Iran

Extravagance never goes out of fashion. For Queen Soraya of Iran, a personal gold key from the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was made.

1960s: Key to the door and ignition

In the 1960s, a number of cars had two different keys, one for unlocking the door and the other for ignition. Gradually, one key for the door lock and ignition became the norm. In the 1960s, the car key began to take on a familiar look, preserved until the 1980s and even a little longer.

1990s: Central lock for all doors

Familiar design and new features: In the mid-1990s, central castle systems began their triumphant development. Since then, drivers no longer have to walk around the vehicle, locking each door separately.

Keys as masterpieces

A luxury car must match a luxury key. The Berlin company Noblekey, specializing in the manufacture of expensive keys, is recognized as an unsurpassed master in this matter. Pictured: Exotic gold key encrusted with precious and semi-precious stones

Wireless keys

The first wireless remote control keys made (from) locking the car even easier. One click and all the doors are open. If drivers can't remember exactly where they parked their car, a wireless remote helps them find it - flashing indicators when the doors are open indicate the location of the car.

2024: World's first NFC key standard for cars approved

On July 17, 2024, the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) announced that automaker BMW Group and semiconductor component supplier NXP Semiconductors were the first two companies to receive digital key certification for CCC Digital Key vehicles. We are talking about using an NFC-enabled smartphone to drive a vehicle. Read more here.

1999: Keyless access

With the invention of a wireless remote control, of course, progress has not stopped. Keyless access systems, which saw the light of day in stock cars in 1999, allow car drivers not only to lock and open the car's doors, but also to start the engine at the touch of a button. There is no more ignition key.

In a conventional keyless access system, the driver's key to the car should still be in the bag or pocket of the jacket. To open the door and start the engine, the key transmits a radio signal in the low frequency (LF) or ultra-high frequency (UHF) range. In the fight against theft, the automotive industry is constantly improving existing systems. It's like a marathon.

For 2019, the Bosch keyless access system for cars works using a virtual key stored on a smartphone. Sensors installed in the car recognize the owner's smartphone as reliably as the fingerprint, and unlock the car only for it. At the same time, the digital key management system connects the application and the car through the cloud.