Company ranks among the region’s fastest-growing companies
Louisville, KY, November 24, 2025—Car Keys Express has won Louisville Business First’s 2025 Fast 50 award, earning the #13 spot among the region’s fastest-growing privately held companies. Founder and CEO Mark Lanwehr accepted the award during the Fast 50 Awards Luncheon held on October 16th.
The Fast 50 program is one of the region’s most prestigious business recognitions, celebrating the 50 fastest-growing independent, privately held companies. To qualify, businesses must be for-profit, have at least three years of revenue history, and generate a minimum of $5 million in their most recent fiscal year. Honorees are ranked by percentage revenue growth over a three-year period, with the final rankings revealed live at the annual luncheon.
A Milestone Year of Growth and Expansion
Car Keys Express earned its top-15 position during one of the strongest periods of growth in its 23-year history, growing revenue by more than 65%, expanding its team to more than 1,000, and significantly expanding its mobile van fleet to meet surging demand for on-the-spot key replacement. This growth reflects a broader national shift toward convenience-driven automotive services—one that Car Keys Express has led and shaped.
Strategic Decisions That Fueled Growth
The company’s strong performance was driven by several high-impact strategic decisions made from 2022 to 2024. Car Keys Express expanded its presence with major membership clubs, advanced its national retail footprint with leading auto parts chains, and deepened its partnerships with the country’s top rental car brands. These initiatives broadened the company’s reach across the U.S. and Canada, strengthened its leadership position in retail and fleet markets, and accelerated adoption of its mobile-based key replacement services. Together, these moves highlight Car Keys Express’s ability to execute at scale, respond quickly to market demand, and deliver consistent service across retail, consumer, and fleet channels—key factors that contributed to its Fast 50 recognition.
A Legacy of Innovation Rooted in Louisville
From its launch in 2002 as a one-person startup, Car Keys Express has grown into the world’s largest automotive key replacement company and the industry’s technology leader.
Over the years, the company has delivered a long list of world-first innovations, including:
- The world’s first online store to sell car keys and remotes
- The world’s first discount mobile key service
- The world’s first electronic car key recycler
- The world’s first universal car remote
- The world’s first universal car key
- The world’s first universal DIY key programmer
- The world’s first car key replacement app
- The world’s first car key vending machine
These breakthroughs are disrupting a $6 billion industry long controlled by dealerships—bringing affordable, accessible key replacement to millions of drivers.
Building the Future of Vehicle Access
Today, Car Keys Express continues to push forward with major investments in AI, automation, mobile scheduling, and smartphone-based vehicle access technologies. Expansion is planned across the U.S. and Canada, with further international growth on the horizon.
Car Keys Express extends its congratulations to the entire team—and gratitude to the customers and partners who continue to fuel its impressive growth.
For more information about Car Keys Express’ Fast 50 award, visit https://bizj.us/1qozxi.
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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