Leapmotor axes keycard entry system after customer backlash

Leapmotor will reintroduce physical keys across its lineup, walking back its keycard-only entry system after widespread criticism from customers and media.

“The key card is dead,” Leapmotor strategy, product and marketing boss Francesco Giacalone said, confirming the brand’s move to reintroduce physical keys across its lineup.

The decision marks a clear reversal of Leapmotor’s digital-first approach, which had previously relied on keycards and smartphone access as the primary entry methods.

The hotel-like system uses NFC technology, requiring drivers to tap the card on the door mirror to unlock it, before placing it inside the cabin to enable the car to start.t

While designed as a cleaner, more modern alternative to a traditional key, the process proved less intuitive in everyday use, particularly compared to the simplicity of a conventional key fob.

Rather than abandoning digital access altogether, the brand will now offer a multi-access system, giving owners three ways to access their vehicle.

“We are keeping the key card, as a backup; you can open the car basically with three,” Giacalone said.

Under the updated approach, the physical key returns as the primary method, with both the keycard and smartphone app repositioned as secondary or convenience options.

The change will be introduced across new models and rolled out to existing ones – including the C10 and upcoming B10 – through model year updates.

The shift reflects a broader recalibration across the automotive industry, as brands balance digital innovation with real-world usability.

While touchscreens and app-based systems have become increasingly common, some customer feedback has pushed back against the removal of simple, tactile interfaces.

That sentiment has begun to influence regulation, with organisations such as ANCAP moving to encourage – and in some cases require – physical controls for critical functions like headlights and windscreen wipers in the latest safety assessments.

The return of physical keys will roll out progressively across export markets, including Australia, as Leapmotor continues its global expansion.

As it grows beyond China, the move underscores a more customer-led approach supported by the rapid development cycles that allow the brand to respond quickly to feedback.

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