Although the latest iteration didn't emerge until the early 2000s, push button cars first appeared back in 1912 when Cadillac introduced an electric push-button starter to replace the risky and hard-to-operate hand crank.

What car had the first push-button start?

Cadillac introduced the pushbutton electric starter in 1912. The electric starter saved lives, reduced injuries, and helped democratize automobiles—finally, people without the physical strength to crank an engine could drive.

Do all new cars have push-button start?

Despite GM's ignition-switch and ignition-key recalls, the auto industry is not likely to make keyless, push-button start standard on all cars and trucks. A keyless ignition system typically adds $75-$125 to a vehicle's cost.