The early move to U.S. manufacturing delivers unmatched stability and a competitive edge.
Louisville, KY, August 12, 2025
Summary: Since 2017, Car Keys Express has executed its long-term strategy to shift core manufacturing operations to the United States, positioning the company as the industry’s most tariff-resilient and vertically integrated key provider.
Over the past eight years, Car Keys Express has quietly and methodically transformed its approach to manufacturing. The company began shifting operations to “Made in America” in 2017, motivated in part by the growing problem of counterfeit keys produced by overseas manufacturers and a desire to better protect its intellectual property. Just as importantly, the move strengthened its supply chain against mounting global risks. When the first wave of tariffs on overseas electronics hit in 2018, the company accelerated those efforts.
When the pandemic hit in 2020 and supply chains failed worldwide, Car Keys Express had already made substantial progress. Today, virtually all high-value components—including the company’s most technically complex elements, such as printed circuit boards—are manufactured in the United States.
Rather than relying entirely on imports, Car Keys Express now operates with a hybrid model that balances domestic production with low-cost sourcing of basic parts from select overseas partners. This layered strategy—combining U.S.-based remanufacturing, domestic production of critical components, and globally diversified procurement—has strengthened its supply chain while lowering its cost structure.
While many competitors remain exposed to the full 25% tariffs now in effect, Car Keys Express has significantly limited the impact of tariffs across its product portfolio. The result is a rare level of independence in the key replacement industry, and a powerful example of foresight in action.
“We’ve seen how uncertainty in global supply chains affects customers—delays, backorders, rising prices,” said Kirk Stewart, Chief Commercial Officer at Car Keys Express. "Our strategy eliminates those risks before they ever reach our customers. By investing in U.S.-based production early, we’ve become the kind of partner they can count on, regardless of what’s happening in the world.”
“Nearly ten years ago, I recognized a strategic gap—our competitors were sourcing exclusively from overseas, limiting their flexibility. I saw an opportunity to gain an edge by manufacturing our own keys, giving us pricing control and enabling the creation of universal products retailers prefer,” said Mark Lanwehr, Founder and CEO of Car Keys Express. “From the beginning, my goal was vertical integration—taking ownership of how our products are made. That’s why we invested in onshoring critical manufacturing and building proprietary technology. Today, we’re reaping the benefits. While others scramble to adapt to tariffs and supply chain volatility, we’ve already built a resilient, fast-moving operation that leads the market instead of chasing it.”
For more information, visit CarKeysExpress.com.
About Car Keys Express
Car Keys Express is the global leader in automotive key replacement for businesses, retailers, and consumers. The company invented the world's first Universal Car Remote, Universal Car Keys, and Universal Smart Key, and is the only American company that manufactures a full line of aftermarket versions of modern car keys. Car Keys Express offers a complete line of retail-friendly solutions to allow retailers to build a key replacement program or enhance an existing program. Car Care Express, a division of Car Keys Express, offers mobile vehicle reconditioning services for businesses and consumers. Founded in 2002, Car Keys Express is continually recognized for excellence in the industry, winning Inc. Magazine’s, “Inc. 5000” award, recognizing America’s fastest-growing companies in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025, Inc.’s “Best in Business” Award in 2024, AAPEX "Best New Product" Award in 2015, 2019 and 2023, Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017, and EnterpriseCorp’s FAST Innovation Award in 2017, among others. To learn more, visit www.CarKeysExpress.com.
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