FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Equus Products Inc. has announced the sale of its 500,000th INNOVA 3100 CanOBD2 Diagnostic Tool. This product, which debuted in 2002, is believed to be the single best-selling on-board diagnostic 2nd generation (OBD2) tool of all time.

“In the late 1990s, our development team had a vision to help drivers of all levels diagnose their high-tech vehicles as easily as they check their fluid levels,” said Ieon Chen, Equus Products CEO. “We’re pleased to have helped a half-million people solve their stubborn engine-related problems. Thanks to easy-to-use products such as ours, repairing today’s vehicles is becoming possible, affordable and even fun again.”

The INNOVA 3100 single item alone is believed to account for as much as 20 percent of all OBD2 tool sales in the U.S., according to industry and internal calculations. Equus has doubled its retail customer base and tripled its sales over the past six years, adding a mix of mass merchandise, online, catalog and tool distributors. While the company credits its growth to a consistently high-quality product offering, Sales Manager Scott Gompper admits the 3100’s success has helped get the company into the door of many new accounts.

Gompper credits the tool’s success to its practical design, ease of use and affordability. In a recent survey of INNOVA tool owners, respondents said the top three reasons for their purchase were price, superior features and excellent tech support. The 3100 was designed by ASE Certified technicians with substantial input from end-users. Innova’s Technical Department Director Keith Andreasen, owned his own shop for 25 years, so he knows what DIYers and technicians need and want in a tool. Innova also offers its customers support by all-ASE Certified Technicians based in the U.S.

While Equus is pleased with the 3100’s success, the company said it is dedicated to continuous improvements to this tool and its entire family of diagnostic products. The company has made several improvements to the 3100, passing these enhancements to customers without increasing costs. These include the addition of Controller Area Network, USB connectivity, trilingual on-screen definitions, MY2010 compliance; and flash-updateable software updates.

The company also debuted www.CanOBD2.com with RepairSolutions, offering owners of any INNOVA OBD tool, including the 3100, online access to a complete repair solution. Without training, any user can gain access to optional VIN specific fix; parts needed and repair procedures of how-to's.

“We’ve sold a half million pieces of our INNOVA 3100 tool and counting, but our goal is to make INNOVA a household name among consumers, DIYers and pros alike,” said Chen. “There are 160 million vehicles on the road in the U.S. alone that can benefit from this tool and technology. We won’t rest until we’ve helped reduce the number of ‘check engine’ lights on the road.”

Editor's Note: Read our recent Executive Interview with Equus CEO Ieon Chen by clicking here.