- Date published
Kevin Wyas shares about big moves in his product.
We’re in the age of customization. We want personalized recommendations on Netflix. We expect to set individualized settings on our phones, like screen brightness, app notifications and wallpaper.
Why should your car be any different?
Upgrades to vehicles – like changing your tire size – cause a ripple effect, though.
For example, increasing the tire size degrades the accuracy of your speedometer and transmission shifting, according to Kevin Wyas, founder of ECRI and efactory member.
ECRI’s product overwrites your vehicle’s programming so that the vehicle performs as though the factory set it up that way. Beyond tires, though, ECRI works to upgrade your vehicle’s computer to configure daytime running lights, back up camera and tire pressure warning lights, too.
Until recently, ECRI focused on modifications for Jeeps, as Wyas previously sold Jeep accessories.
Now ECRI announces the expansion into models produced by Ford.
“In this time of growth, I’ve basically restarted my whole business,” he said. “I’ve redesigned my entire product and assembly techniques, and I’m so proud of it.”
Use, reuse and relicense
Upgrading your car and programming it properly can save you a lot of money.
“The dealers want you to buy a new, upgraded car, but ECRI costs you about $100,” Wyas said.
He has built relationships with some accessories shops that use his product. They can reuse the same piece of equipment on countless vehicles with only the additional purchase of a $50 licensing fee each time.
According to Wyas, this helps ECRI stand above his competitors, none of which are app-based. In the case of his competitors, a shop would need to have a stock of costly inventory.
“The benefits of technology are that you are able to do something either more efficiently or from a different angle,” Wyas said. “That makes it hard for older business models to adapt and compete with.”
However, Wyas says that since starting in January 2020, he has sold the majority of his products directly to individuals.
Upgrades and accessories
If you purchased a Canadian Jeep with daytime running lights but you didn’t want that functionality in the U.S., you could disable those in ECRI, noted Wyas.
“Or, if you export a car – like you’re in the military and heading to Germany, you can set up your own daytime running lights and enable that rather than buying a new vehicle,” he added.
But people who change their tire size are the biggest market for needing this type of product. With an estimated 20 million Jeeps on the road, Wyas said that more than 60% are accessorized.
“When you resell these accessorized vehicles, it’s a major annoyance if the programming and speedometer is off,” he said.
How does it work
The app is simple. That’s mostly because Wyas has striven for perfection and analyzed the process inside and out.
To reprogram your vehicle after customization:
- Download the app and open it.
- Plug the ECRI device in the On-Board Diagnostics port in your vehicle.
- The app will connect, decode your VIN and retrieve a list of available settings.
- Select the settings in the app that you wish to change and replace the value.
- Then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the update.
What sets ECRI apart
All the things that efactory is known for – Wyas does it. App development. Manufacturing. Engineering. Execution.
He is truly a one-man show, and ECRI, “is as close to a fully American made electronic product as you will find,” he said.
