ETI Member Company Profile
Innova Electronics Corporation

The year was 1990. The average price for a gallon of gasoline was $1.34.  And OBD2 technology hadn’t yet been standardized on vehicles. It was also the year that Innova Electronics, Corp. and the INNOVA® brand of automotive diagnostic equipment launched.  INNOVA was established by Equus Products, an automotive aftermarket diagnostic and test and tune equipment manufacturer, to serve as its R&D arm for providing automotive OEMs, technicians and consumers with new innovative tools and services for diagnosing the computerized vehicles of today and tomorrow.

INNOVA prides itself on developing products from the ground up to solve unmet needs in the automotive marketplace.  Here are a few highlights, as we look back on the past 22 years of Innova’s mission to bring innovation to the automotive aftermarket industry:  

In the mid-1990s the automotive timing light category had become a dying breed as more and more high tech vehicles were made with distributorless (DIS) ignition systems. Enter INNOVA’s engineering and technical teams, which adapted their knowledge and integrated the latest ignition system technology to develop both revolutionary timing lights to work with DIS systems and the DIS Tester. This DIS expertise also enabled Innova to collaborate with SMP and Dana to develop the first in-store tester to help counter staff catch catastrophic failures and reduce returns of expensive Conventional and DIS ignition modules.

In 1996, Innova became the first automotive aftermarket manufacturer to require all of its product development and support technicians to earn their Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications.  Today, the company directly employs roughly 30 ASE + Master Techs who also manage a network of factory trained technicians throughout North America. This team develops and supports INNOVA products and services directly from its U.S.A.-based headquarters.

Among the most notable milestones in Innova’s history are the development of its on-board diagnostic tools and database. In 1996, when the U.S. government standardized OBD2 on vehicles, INNOVA set out to tap into this technology to help efficiently solve “check engine” problems, and improve communication between consumers and their mechanics. By 2001, the INNOVA® 3100 OBD2 Diagnostic Tool was launched. Each of the INNOVA tools today are designed with the technician's desire for speed and ease of use in mind, while integrating unique and patented features.  The 3100 features a patented single-screen display that enables users of all levels to quickly check for OBD2-related problems, get emissions readiness status and quickly confirm and verify repairs. Continuous product improvements and demand from the marketplace have now morphed into a complete OBD diagnostic tool program. The company recently introduced its Innova Pro CarScan® line of professional-grade automotive diagnostic tools launched to include ABS and SRS coverage, state-of-the-art processing chip and additional pro-grade features.

For over 15 years, INNOVA’s nationwide network of factory-trained technicians has been developing the company’s RepairSolutions® database, which enables users to quickly pinpoint repairs for any new car, light truck, van, SUV or hybrid – foreign or domestic. It goes beyond providing a code and definition to using VIN#-specific information to pinpoint the most accurate repair for each scenario down to parts cost, labor time, repair information and videos to provide the information needed for the user to repair the vehicle correctly the first time. RepairSolutions® also recently began to offer predictive diagnostics so customers can budget and make future decisions about ownership and repairs. This subscription-based data is accessible to anyone at www.innova.com.

Innova joined ETI in 1994 to stay abreast of the latest industry developments and to elevate the Automotive Industry. ETI creates an environment that allows each of its members the ability to interact directly with OEM’s and end users to provide the future services, products and needed support.  Networking with other members creates the ability to help the entire industry.

“Today, more information is available than ever before to help technicians and consumers alike pinpoint what’s wrong with the more than 200 million OBD vehicles on the road today and get the repairs made quickly, accurately and cost-effectively,” said Ieon C. Chen, Innova’s CEO. “ETI has been a wealth of knowledge and resources to help INNOVA in our effort to improve the relationship and level of satisfaction between the automotive industry, technicians and customers.”

Earlier this year, Innova Electronics, Corp., moved its headquarters to a new building in Irvine, Calif. The team is always looking for talented team members to help develop and support its INNOVA products directly from its U.S.A.-based headquarters.