The Evolution of the Car Key

Key Technology Explained by Your Local Volkswagen Dealer

Think about how much technology has changed over the years.

A phone is no longer just a phone anymore. It’s a video camera, gaming device, communications tool, and personal computer all rolled into one. As time marches on, we keep getting better at making things smaller, more efficient, and packed with features. This applies to our television sets, our computers, and even our car keys.

To give you a little history lesson, we’re going to take a trip down memory lane to study the evolution of the car key. Let’s rewind all the way back to the time of muscle cars and one of the first iterations of the Volkswagen Beetle…the 1940s.

The 1940s

Back in the 1940s, the traditional metal key was how you turned on your car and locked/unlocked your doors. As expected, this car key did nothing more than what it needed to. However, it was the official starting point of key technology, and as the saying goes, “We all gotta start somewhere.”

Although the traditional metal key design would be the standard for several decades, it would go through gradual optimizations that slimmed it down and made it lighter in weight.

1950s – 1970s

Starting in the 1950s, Volkswagen began to advance both their automobile fleet and car key technology. They designed thirteen different key profiles – also known as blanks – for their offering of VW vehicles. Each profile was uniquely designed and had a different two-letter code that corresponded with its specific vehicle lock. This two-letter code would also appear on the vehicle – usually somewhere inconspicuous – that matched up with the code on the key.

The 1990s

The 1990s is when we started to see huge leaps forward with car key technology. At long last, the remote keyless entry fob was introduced to the market. For the majority of vehicle owners out there, this is the key that you’re most likely using right now (although an advanced version).

The science behind it is that the key sends out a coded radio signal to your vehicle that issues commands such as locking the doors and starting the engine. It would only take a few years before the key fob was further improved by adding additional command features such as keyless trunk entry and alarm system activation/deactivation.

To further innovate the fob, a switchblade version was introduced in Germany that the public fell in love with. Drivers took a liking to the clever design and distinct popping motion of the key. For those of you that have ever owned a Golf GTI or VW Beetle, this is a variety of key you’re already familiar with.

The Millennium

In the 2000s, our phones graduated to smartphones and our keys advanced to – yeah, you guessed it – smart keys. No longer was the traditional metal key portion needed. These modern keys sent a direct signal to the car’s ignition issuing the command to start. Most of these keys featured a backup metal key hidden on the inside just in case the battery ran out.

Current Day

Do you know what the most evolved version of a car key is? It’s getting rid of the key completely. We’re finally at the point where the new vehicles being manufactured technically don’t need car keys anymore. Many of the important functions of your vehicle can be accessed via your smartphone.

In fact, the all-electric Volkswagen ID. 4 utilizes keyless entry technology so that drivers can access their vehicles using the Volkswagen Car-Net app. The app can also control the vehicle’s climate and provide an at-a-glance look at current battery health.

Although the car key is an important part of automobile history, it won’t be long before it’s phased out and nothing more than a piece of nostalgia.

Contact Your Local Volkswagen Dealer for Great Deals on VW Vehicles

Here at VW, we embrace the past but we always have our eyes locked in on the future. If you’re ready to see firsthand just how far the evolution of automobiles has come, then you need to pay a visit to a Volkswagen dealership near you. The all-electric VW ID.4, the swift and speedy Golf GTI, and the family-friendly VW Atlas are all changing the game in the automobile world.

Ready to check out your next new ride? VW Cypress is one of the leading new car dealerships near you that carries all variety of sedans, compacts, and SUVs. We’ve got new cars, used cars, and certified pre-owned vehicles that have undergone a 100+ point inspection. We also have plenty of specials on VW products and services.

Important notification to our customers: Volkswagen Cypress SALES operations will move into its new location at 11411 Farm to Market 1960 West in Houston, TX, after the holidays! SERVICE operations will also move to a new location after the holidays. Its new stand-alone building can be found at 10828 Steepletop Drive in Houston, TX, located just one minute away from the SALES.

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