Continental India Powers Mahindra’s New Age XUV500 with its Passive Keyless Entry System

Continental Automotive Components India today announced that it has powered the Passive Keyless Entry (PKE) System in Mahindra’s New Age XUV 500. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.), India’s leading SUV manufacturer, is the first Indian car manufacturer to implement the PKE system in the country.

The PKE system consists of an attractively designed key fob, backed by robust engineering to ensure the highest levels of safety for the XUV500, Mahindra’s cheetah inspired premium SUV. This system also provides an Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) control via the PKE Control Unit and a Start Stop Button with an integrated immobilizer.

When the driver approaches the car and pushes the button on the door handle, the key, which is the identification device with the driver, communicates instantly with the receiver in the PKE system. The electronics identifies the driver as the authorized user and unlocks the door. The engine can be started without the key ever leaving the driver’s pocket: one push of the start/stop button is all it takes to deactivate the steering wheel lock and start the engine.

According to Harikrishna Khandavilli, India Location Head for Business Unit, Body & Security, “Continental’s sophisticated electronics upgrades the familiar driver authorization system into a high-convenience Passive Start and Entry system. We are delighted to supply our PKE System to Mahindra’s New Age XUV500, making this the first time ever for such a system to be applied in a car manufactured by an Indian OEM.”

Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner, the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated sales of approximately €34.5 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tire, and ContiTech. Continental currently employs approximately 200,000 people in 53 countries.

Information management in and beyond the vehicle is at the very heart of the Interior division. The product portfolio for different types of vehicles includes: instrument clusters, multifunctional and head-up displays, control units, access control and tire-information systems, radios, infotainment systems, input devices, control panels, climate control units, software, cockpits as well as services and solutions for telematics and Intelligent Transportation Systems. The Interior division employs more than 36,000 people worldwide and generated preliminary sales of approximately €7 billion in 2014