For additional information please email jappleby@sbd.co.uk or telephone Juanita on +44 (0) 1908 305101 and she will be happy to deal with your enquiry.

What makes a good smart What makes a good smart key system?key system?

SBD Security researchSBD Security research

The “What makes a good smart key system?” research series includes three parts:

Part 1: Customer needs - a focus on system functionality and understanding what customers really want and expect from their smart key systems. Examples show how these expectations can be met, whilst potential design and functionality weaknesses are also highlighted.

Part 2: European Database - a searchable data set of each system offered in Europe by manufacturer and model with grade availability, option cost, features and photographic examples.

Part 3: Technology - an insight of vehicle manufacturer implementation and suppliers’ current and future strategies.

Complete analysis of the current European market for smart key systems...

To help vehicle manufacturers and suppliers understand how to improve take-up rates on smart key systems, SBD presents a three part series of reports on “What makes a good smart key system?”. This series provides the knowledge needed to help specify systems, gain competitive advantage and understand what European consumers expect in terms of benefits and features. The reports also provide insight into best strategies in terms of technologies for smart key functionality and availability.

Customer opinions, market and technical analysis...Customer opinions, market and technical analysis...

Find out why customers may not be buying smart key equipped models, or paying for the optional upgrade

Identify opportunities to increase sales of smart key

systems in Europe Identify potential causes of customer confusion at the

point of sale and during the use of the vehicle

Part 1: Customer needs (Ref: 2205)

This report combines end-customer opinions and real-life examples of smart key functions to show both good and bad system design. The report also includes recommendations that will help manufacturers to match their systems to their customer’s wants, needs and expectations.

Part 2: European feature database (Ref: 2206)

This database provides an up-to-date picture of the smart key market in Europe. The database lists each system by manufacturer and model, grade availability and option cost where applicable. It also details the features of each system illustrated with numerous photographs to ensure a good understanding of the range of solutions currently in use.

Although smart key systems have been in development for over fifteen years, the majority of European customers still do not know that such technology exists or do not understand the benefits that the system can bring. A general lack of customer awareness is therefore blocking an increase in the adoption of smart key systems, and vehicle manufacturers face a challenge in understanding how to generate customer demand.

Perceived Benefits Concerns

“It’s so convenient if I’m carrying shopping”

“I don’t have to find the keys

when it’s raining”

“It’s just so much quicker”

“Having owned one I don’t know how I

would live without it”

“It’s a cool feature, it looks hi-tech and not everyone has

one”

“How do I know the car is locked?”

“What if the system goes

wrong, will I still be able to lock the vehicle?”

“I don’t find a remote control keyfob inconvenient to use,

so I don’t need a smart key”

“But doesn’t that mean a thief can start the vehicle without me being inside?”

“Won’t it be really

complicated to learn?”

ALL CONVENIENCE RELATED

Either SECURITY RELATED, or THEY CAN’T IDENTIFY THE BENEFITS

Customer comments regarding smart key systems

...know what tomorrow brings...know what tomorrow brings

Part 3: Technology (Ref: 2206)

This report shows the current relationships between suppliers and manufacturers, with further analysis on each supplier’s market position and future technology development, such as enhanced keyfobs and reduced hardware. The report also identifies the hardware fitment trends for each of the four basic smart key system functions: smart unlock, smart lock, smart start and emergency start. A technology-by-technology look at the benefits and drawbacks of each solution highlights which technology could be the right one to use.

Understand vehicle manufacturer and supplier activity in terms of fitment strategy and technical developments

Identify supplier solutions and vehicle

manufacturer relationships Predict the likely directions for smart key

system technology in Europe Decide which technologies are the most

appropriate for smart entry and smart start

Whilst optional take-up rates are still low, overall availability of smart key systems continues to increase in Europe.

There are currently 85 systems available from 20 vehicle manufacturers and 9 different system suppliers, and many more vehicle manufacturers are expected to introduce their first ever systems before 2012.

As these systems become available on more vehicles across all segments, new trends are emerging in vehicle manufacturers’ f i tment strategies and suppl ier developments for the future.

Smart key availability in Europe over time

Smart key supplier map by manufacturer

1999 - 2 systems available

2003 - 23 systems available

2007 - 78 systems available

2009 2009 -- 85 85 systems systems availableavailable

About the report author... David Green – Vehicle Security Technical Analyst

David graduated from Cardiff University with an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has worked on a number of projects focused on vehicle security and car insurance and specialises in Smart Key technology. David has a broad knowledge of vehicle benchmarking and has contributed to a number of publications on Smart Key development.

For a quotation or further information please contact Juanita Appleby on:

Email: jappleby@sbd.co.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1908 305 101

Fax: +44 (0)1908 305 106

Related Reports Smart Key UK End User Survey This end-user survey provides direct feedback from consumers in the UK to help vehicle manufacturers and system suppliers understand the likes and dislikes of Smart Key systems so that they can avoid developing a system that does not meet consumer requirements. It identifies gaps in consumer expectations to help devise marketing strategies to attract new customers. Reference SBD/SEC/2110 The market for Smart Key and Keyless Entry in the USA This report details how American consumer attitudes and usage of RF control for lock/unlock has created underlying issues towards the slow growth of Smart Key in the USA. However, the report's analysis of fitment strategies and possible motivators predicts an increase in Smart Key system sales and helps vehicle manufacturers realise how they can increase the acceptance of this technology. Reference SBD/SEC/2018 Smart key vehicle benchmarking reports Both Smart entry and Smart start of a range of European models are evaluated in three main areas of Convenience, Features & Security. The evaluation is based on SBD’s experience of customer expectation, competitor systems, and vehicle security. In the area of security the vehicle was assessed against Thatcham’s smart key criteria and against additional items judged by SBD as potential security issues. Visit our website or contact us directly for a full listing of the vehicle models available.

Pricing:

Report Electronic pdf copy

2205 Part 1 - Customer needs £1100 / €1400 / $1750

2206 Part 2 - European database £1100 / €1400 / $1750

2207 Part 3 - Technology £1100 / €1400 / $1750

Buy all 3 and get 10% reduction £2970 / €3780 / $4725

The SBD Mission... … to provide our customers with the knowledge, insight and understanding they need to develop class leading Telematics and Vehicle Security products and improved Cost Of Ownership performance