The Story of the Renault Card Key

The hands-free card is one of the most important inventions to ever change the way that 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 key element in the daily lives of car owners The hands-free card of Renault has been a huge hit worldwide. Since its first introduction twenty years ago it is among the top innovations from the company. Pascaline is the head of Cross-Cutting Products at the Products division takes us on a a journey to discover the story of this handy accessory.

It was in 2001 that the Laguna II, a saloon designed to embody ‘lifestyle’ driving, came into production. It was a time that saw great innovation, including many new features. attributes that enabled customers enjoy the full benefits of their vehicle.

The occupants still had to use keys to open and close their doors. This was a huge problem for many and Renault engineers were determined to tackle it.

So, they decided to incorporate the use of a contactless keycard into their vehicles and develop the system that would allow drivers to open and start their cars by merely waving hands. The result is the card key which is currently found on a third of Renault vehicles. The car will be unlocked automatically when the card is placed near the ignition barrel, or on the centre console. This is a genuine Renault remote control keycard (without the blade). It comes individually 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 the car remote key can be a wonderful convenience in our lives. Unfortunately, these products can fail due to ware and wear or simply being dropped. It can be quite frustrating when this happens. Fortunately, there are many options to replace your Renault key card. Contacting your dealer is one option. This may take a while and can be expensive. A professional locksmith is a different option.

SR Key Solutions has the required equipment to program and manufacture Renault keys and cards. We can replace your key at a cost that is lower than what a dealer would charge. Furthermore, we can complete it much more quickly than a dealership would.

This product is compatible with the Renault Laguna II, Espace 4 and Vel Satis keycards (keyless entry system). renault key replacement is designed to protect your keycard while providing a stylish design. It comes in two colours and can be customized with your VIN, logo or any other information. It can be used in conjunction with a normal keychain or inside the key case. This is an authentic Renault part and can only be used with the vehicle for the model for which it was ordered. Please provide your VIN to ensure that the correct key has been delivered.

The technology

Renault key cards come with transponder chips as well as a low-frequency communication feature. This enables the card to communicate with your car. The chips are susceptible to cracking due to use and can be extremely expensive to repair them or replaced by a dealer. We can repair or replace your Renault key card for less than the dealer cost.

The hands-free card first came out in 2001, on the Laguna II saloon. This car was designed to be the lifestyle car of the 21st Century. However, despite a comprehensive design brief based on more than 6,000 customer interviews looking at their lifestyles, habits and expectations, Renault ran out of time to develop prototypes and test every possible use-cases.

Bernard Dumondel was the product lead on Laguna II at the time. He used the hotel room key to unlock the car. As the key featured tiny magnetic strips, Bernard Dumondel thought it might be possible to create an automobile key that functions similarly.

In the years following the card was praised as a revolutionary technology and is now offered in two out of three Renault vehicles. Although smartphones appear to be on the verge of replacing it, Renault has chosen to take advantage of the new technology without letting the hands-free card fall to the side.

The keyless entry system

The hands-free card of Renault was a groundbreaking piece of technology when it was first introduced 20 years ago. The exterior of the card is identical but the technology has been improved to make it easier to use and less vulnerable to hacking.

It’s not able to be used from outside to unlock doors or start the car until the driver turns it on. This is because radio antennae “around the car” are set up to determine whether the key is inside or outside. The key will still start the ignition from a distance, but will not open the doors. This is to ensure your safety.

The second 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 intercepting and retransmitting an authorization message to gain access, but isn’t a guarantee of avoiding the threat completely. [1]

If the key fob on your Megane suddenly ceases to function, particularly after you’ve dropped it to the floor, it could be a sign that the receiver module is faulty. If this is the scenario, you’ll have to replace it with a genuine Renault replacement. For more information, click the ‘Key Programming Information tab above. Customers who are in the motor or locksmith trade can register for a trade account and enjoy a special price.