A column in the March 13, Sunday Chicago Tribune describes the demise of metal car keys. The author states: "The metal key may soon join the hand crank as a method of starting the engine. Digital key fobs are not only more secure (you can't open the door with a coat hanger), there is virtually no risk of an ignition switch failing. Ford has eliminated keys on all but the Transit vans. GM is moving in the same direction. Starting in 2017, Volvo begins eliminating the key fob altogether. The Swedish carmaker plans to replace it with a smartphone app."
The GM ignition switch fiasco mainly happened when heavy amounts of keys were hanging from the wide keyhole in the GM keybow. If the heavy group of keys shifted to one side of the wide ignition key hole during travel, it was possible that the ignition key could become rotated enough to turn off the ignition.
Ford is offering push button start on many 2016 vehicles but it is an option on several passenger car models and light trucks. Ford has not eliminated all keys. And most cars can still be unlocked with car opening tools regardless of whether they are equipped with electronic locking or not.
When anything is put in print a lot of people believe what they read. When something is either misleading or outright untrue it is still out there for the public to digest. A rebuttal was sent to the Tribune writer but no response has been forthcoming.
One true statement in the dismal Tribune column was about Volvo cars for 2017. Volvo has announced that 2017 Volvo models will be able to be operated with either metal keys or by a cell phone app. The app will be able to lock and unlock the vehicle and allow push button starting. Information can be sent by cell phone to family or friends so other cell phones can then be used to operate the same vehicle. Volvo is experimenting with allowing cell phones to be used for operating Volvo cars from rental car agencies.
Within the last few weeks, both Kwikset and Master Lock have introduced cell phone-operated devices. Kwikset has a deadbolt unit. Master Lock has a keyless padlock. The jury is still out on whether metal keys will soon be mentioned in the same breathe with hand cranks but meanwhile lock companies are hedging their bets.
