Earns Runner-Up Honors at 2026 SEMA New Product Awards
Performance Electronics, Ltd. (PE) and Cability, Inc. is previewing the OBDII BLOCKER at the 2026 SEMA Show, November 3–6 in Las Vegas, ahead of its scheduled production launch in 2027. The OBDII BLOCKER installs out of sight behind the dash, between the vehicle harness and the existing OBD2 port, and lets owners lock and unlock the port from a free, Bluetooth-connected mobile app. It earned Runner-Up Honors at the New Product Awards!
The OBDII BLOCKER grew out of a long-standing working relationship between PE and Cability. PE led the electronics, firmware and app development, while Cability contributed its cable and harness design and manufacturing.
Thieves don’t need your keys anymore. They just need your OBD2 port. A thief who gets into the cabin can plug a commercially available key programmer into an unprotected OBD2 port and program a new key fob in minutes, then drive away as if the vehicle had been legitimately keyed. U.S. law enforcement is increasingly reporting this method as an active theft technique.
The OBDII BLOCKER closes that door. When the port is locked, the OBD2 connector is cut off from the vehicle network, so a key programmer plugged into it has nothing to talk to. Because the unit uses a standard OBD2 connector, nothing in the cabin indicates that a blocker is installed.
What sets the OBDII BLOCKER apart
Most OBD2 port locks are either a mechanical cover or a simple on/off switch or come with a hefty price tag and a monthly subscription fee. The OBDII BLOCKER is built around PE’s embedded-electronics and mobile-app expertise, giving it capabilities other port locks don’t have:
- Reads the CAN bus without sharing it. The blocker continues to read data on the vehicle side of the electronics without making that data available at the cabin port.
- Locks and unlocks automatically. Owners can configure the blocker in the app to lock and unlock the port based on CAN data, such as when a certain RPM is reached, so there’s no need to remember to lock or unlock it. It also means the phone and app don’t have to be present to unlock the port, which helps in an emergency when a phone isn’t available or isn’t charged, or when the vehicle is in for service.
- Configurable 12V accessory port. The port can be configured to provide constant power for accessories that require it, such as a GPS tracker; key-on power, so accessories such as a radar detector or backup camera don’t have to be unplugged to keep from draining the battery; or power based on a parameter from the CAN bus.
- Smart accessory switching. Accessories can be switched on and off with key-on power and engine parameters from the CAN bus, making additional aftermarket electronics, such as TPS switches or window switches, unnecessary.
- No additional costs. The OBDII BLOCKER is controlled through a free mobile app, with no subscription necessary.
“Car thieves have figured out that the OBD2 port is the easiest way into a modern vehicle, and most of the products that protect it are a cover or an on/off switch,” said Brian Lewis, Owner of Performance Electronics. “Working with Cability, we built a blocker that not only protects against this type of theft but also offers some electronic intelligence by continuing to read the CAN bus.”
“Pairing PE’s electronics expertise with our cable manufacturing capabilities was a good blending of our strengths,” said Bret Gann, President, Cability, Inc. “Together we’ve created a better mousetrap, and we’re hoping to get some good feedback on it at SEMA.”
Who it’s for
The OBDII BLOCKER is designed for a wide range of customers, including:
- Individuals who want to protect their investment from car theft and/or power additional aftermarket accessories
- Dealerships and companies with fleets that need theft protection
- Upfitters that want to offer it as an aftermarket option
- Companies that need fleet data from accessories such as GPS and radar
- Automotive accessory companies that want to pair it with their own product as a key-on power option
See it at SEMA. SEMA Show attendees can see the OBDII BLOCKER and share feedback with the development team at Performance Electronics, Booth #23829 in the Central Hall, and at Cability, Inc., Booth #10560 in the North Hall. It will also be part of the New Product Showcase. The 2026 SEMA Show takes place November 3–6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
ABOUT PERFORMANCE ELECTRONICS
Performance Electronics, Ltd. is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based engineering and manufacturing company specializing in embedded electronic control systems and custom electronic solutions. PE supports customers through concept development, electronic and mechanical design, software and firmware development, mobile-app development, testing, manufacturing and product lifecycle management.
ABOUT CABILITY, INC.
Cability, Inc., based in Vista, California, has more than 40 years of experience in custom wire, cable and harness manufacturing for automotive, off-road aftermarket, marine, telecom and communications applications.
MEDIA CONTACT
Julie Lewis
Director of Business Operations
Performance Electronics, Ltd.
513-777-5233 ext. 101
julie.lewis@pe-ltd.com
www.PE-ltd.com
