INNOVA® 3100 OBD II CODE READER TO SELL 50,000th UNIT

·Tool Offers Easy Way to Determine why CHECK ENGINE" Light is On

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (PRWEB) June 25, 2003 -- Equus Products, Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of test and tune equipment for the automotive aftermarket, will sell the 50,000th piece of its INNOVA® 3100 OBD II Code Reader this month. The tool, which was introduced less than 18 months ago, has become the best selling OBD II Code Reader in the automotive aftermarket, and has contributed to successful sales increases for Equus and many of its customers.

Our companys key philosophy is to take the time to develop products from the ground up to meet our customers needs," said Ieon C. Chen, CEO for Equus Products, Inc. Feedback and sales statistics show that this approach enables us to produce successful products. The 3100 surpassed our first-year sales goals with 10,000 units sold in less than six months, helped contribute to a 50 percent increase in 2002 company revenues, and continues to exceed expectations."

According to Chen, the 3100 OBD II Code Reader has also led to many Equus Products customer sales success stories. Toronto-based Canadian Tire Corporation sold more of the INNOVA® 3100 OBD II code readers during a one-week promotion than they sold of our competitors units all last year. Midway Auto Supply, a small Dallas-based automotive parts chain, increased its in-store and online sales of Equus parts 1,200 percent with this one item. Springfield, Mo.-based OReilly Auto Parts, a 1,000-store auto parts chain, increased its existing Equus line purchases by 80 percent thanks in large part to 3100 OBD II Code Reader orders. And Phoenix-based CSK Auto, a 1,100-store chain operating under the brand names Checker Auto Parts, Schucks Auto Supply and Kragen Auto Parts, more than doubled its test and tune purchases from Equus since they began carrying our 3100 unit.

Equus Products developed the INNOVA® 3100 OBD II Code Reader to meet a growing industry need for tools that can be used by do-it-yourselfers and professionals to quickly and easily diagnose 1996 and newer cars and trucks. All vehicles manufactured in the U.S. since 1996 are equipped with On-board Diagnostics System Second Generation (OBD II), a government mandated computerized system that set a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and turns on the Check Engine" light when it detects an emissions-related failure. According to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, more than 100 million U.S. vehicles are equipped with OBD II systems, and over 16 million are added to the population each year.

Applying more than 20 years of experience as an automotive aftermarket test equipment manufacturer, Equus engineered the 3100 OBD II Code Reader from the ground up to meet the needs of end users. Some of the features that have led to its popularity include:

· Easy to Use -- Just plug it into a universal OBD II connector (usually found under the dash); push the LINK button; and retrieve all current and pending codes in about 10 seconds. It includes an instruction manual, which can be used along with the vehicles service manual to make repairs.

· Easy to View -- All information is displayed on one large (1" x 1-3/4") screen. This sophisticated tool was custom engineered to eliminate the need for scrolling.

· Wide Coverage -- It covers all OBD II compliant vehicles and provides DTCs for both generic (P0) and manufacturer specific (P1) emissions problems.

· Monitor Icons -- The tools single-screen displays monitor icons and status, which indicate each monitor that is supported by the vehicle in test and whether the associated monitor has run its test. These monitors show I/M (emissions testing) readiness, which must be complete before a vehicle can pass a smog check.

· Memory -- The 3100 includes a battery operated memory feature, which allows it to retain codes even after the unit has been disconnected from the vehicle in test (3 AAA batteries included).

· Low Cost -- The suggested retail price is U.S.$179.99; it is selling at popular retail chains and online outlets for even less.

Thousands of do-it-yourselfers and professional automotive installers are using the 3100 OBD II Code Reader," said Richard Amador, Equus marketing director. We have feedback from shop owners who have purchased one for every mechanic to save time and money diagnosing vehicles and confirming repairs. There are also self described 'backyard fix-it folks who are using it for diagnosing simple repairs, preparing for a smog check, and saving on paying the dealership as much as $85 to diagnose a problem."

In addition to manufacturing and distributing the popular INNOVA® 3100 OBD II Code Reader, Equus Products has a full line of automotive test and tune equipment. The line offers the most complete DIY OBD I (1981 to 1995) code reader coverage on the market today, including the 3123 GM Code Reader and new 3145 Ford Digital Code Reader, 3165 Chrysler Code Reading System and 3173 Import Code Reader. As with all of its products, Equus provides all-ASE Certified technical support to its customers and end users via an 800 number and online.

About Equus Products, Inc.
Equus Products, Inc., is a leading manufacturer and distributor of test equipment, gauges and tachometers for the automotive aftermarket. Founded in 1982, the company markets and distributes its line under the EQUUS® brand to major retail and WD accounts throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In 1990, Innova Electronics Corporation was acquired for its research, design and product development abilities. Products developed under this division carry the INNOVA® brand. Equus has manufacturing facilities in U.S., Taiwan, and China. The sales, service and warehousing facilities for North America are located in Fountain Valley, California and Vancouver, British Columbia. All products distributed in North America are researched, developed and designed at the California facility. For more information, visit, www.iEQUUS.com or www.CodeReader.com.

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