Every successful brand has an origin story. Autel U.S. begins in an unlikely place: a home tucked behind a gas station on Long Island.
This article is part of our ongoing vendor deep-dive series at ADAS Depot, where we look to post interesting stories about the companies shaping the diagnostic and ADAS landscape. Autel is one of our top brands and we wanted to highlight its evolution over time.
More than fifteen years ago, Autel U.S. was built on a conviction that still guides everything it does today: when technology is created with people at its center, it brings out the best in those who use it. With a small team and a bold vision for better automotive diagnostics, Autel set out to empower automotive technicians with greater clarity, confidence, and capability in the bay.
As vehicles grew more complex and the pace of change accelerated, Autel chose a different path from many of its competitors, one that places the technician first and treats innovation as a partnership between human expertise and intelligent technology. The company has consistently positioned advanced diagnostic capability as something that should be accessible, not gated behind prohibitive costs or restrictive ecosystems.
From the beginning, Autel’s product philosophy has centered on supporting technician judgment rather than replacing it. Tools are designed to amplify skills, streamline workflows, and reduce unnecessary friction in daily diagnostic work. That approach has helped Autel grow from a small operation into one of the most recognized names in automotive diagnostics across North America.
Humble beginnings, big vision
Established in 2011 as the North American subsidiary of Autel China, Autel U.S. originally operated out of the home of founder Gary DeLuca. What began as an independent reseller of diagnostic tools soon became the official U.S. arm of Autel, laying the foundation for a business built around technical depth and real-world shop needs.
One of the company’s earliest team members was Chloe Hung, who joined after being referred by a cousin while searching for part-time work. She would later be named Autel U.S. CEO in 2021. When Hung arrived for her interview, she expected a traditional office setting and instead found a gas station with a residence behind it, a reminder of just how early-stage the operation still was at the time.
Talk about modest settings. That moment marked the beginning of a growth trajectory that would eventually move Autel U.S. into a 50,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in Port Washington, Long Island.
The history of its parent company, Autel Intelligent Company, is interesting as well. It is a Shenzhen-headquartered company that got started in 2004 by making handheld OBD-II diagnostic readers, tools that read and clear ECU fault codes on a wide range of vehicles.
Autel has since expanded into other areas, including TPMS series, battery service tools, key programming, specialty tools, ADAS calibration systems, key and immobilizer systems, wheel alignment, and increasingly EV-related solutions like EV chargers and smart charging infrastructure. They even started doing HVAC service equipment.
A product strategy built around the aftermarket
Autel’s U.S. product journey began with a modest but practical tool: the AutoLink AL309, a basic OBDII code reader focused on accessibility and ease of use.
The DS708 marked an early inflection point. Built on Microsoft’s Windows CE platform, it delivered bi-directional diagnostics and unusually broad coverage of U.S., Asian, and European vehicles at a time when handheld diagnostic platforms were still evolving. It signaled Autel’s intent to support the full scope of the North American aftermarket rather than focus narrowly on single-brand solutions.
That philosophy accelerated with the launch of the Android-based MaxiSYS platform. Full-system diagnostics, guided service functions, and J2534 pass-thru capability were packaged into tablet-based tools that challenged long-standing assumptions about price, capability, and accessibility. Autel’s software design emphasized clarity and workflow efficiency, stripping away unnecessary complexity while preserving diagnostic depth.
From diagnostics, Autel expanded into adjacent categories. The launch of the 1-Sensor is entering them into the TPMS market by dramatically simplifying inventory while maintaining near-universal coverage.
ADAS Depot Perspective: Where Autel Fits—and Where It Doesn’t
Like any diagnostic platform, Autel is not a universal solution for every operation. Some shops may prioritize ultra-deep OEM workflows, others may favor multi-environment platforms, and yet others may prefer highly specialized tools depending on their service mix and volume. Autel’s strength has historically been in balancing diagnostic depth, usability, and cost in a way that aligns well with the realities of independent repair.
That balance helps explain its adoption across a wide range of shops, from general repair facilities to ADAS-focused operators.
We at ADAS Depot are big fans of Autel. We think highly of their product usability, support, modular design, and vehicle coverage. Many people know Autel and think their product is well-designed.
Some of our top sellers that we recommend include:
For Tablets:
For Frames:
All types of products:
Autel Subaru EyeSight Wide-Angle Mono Camera Target 3 Pack (CSC0611-05)
Autel Toyota AVM Target and Bracket CSC0804-03
Autel Two Line Laser (CSC1500-10)
Autel Hyundai/Kia vehicles equipped with AVM (CSC1004-04)
Autel Corner Reflector with Stand CSC0800 & CSC0802-01
Autel Five line laser (CSC1500-05)
Autel VW Audi 360 AVM Targets (CSC1004-01)
Autel Tesla 3 and Y-compatible Adapter (2020 and below)
At ADAS Depot, our goal is not to promote individual brands, but to help shops understand how different platforms fit into an industry that is becoming more software-driven, more regulated, and more consequential every year. Autel’s evolution offers a useful case study in how diagnostic technology has adapted to that reality, and where it may continue heading next.
In the following weeks we will be talking about other shops that work with ADAS Depot, stay tuned for more posts like this one.
