BlueConnect Automotive Launches SmartFuse to Combat Surging Vehicle Theft, Opens Distribution Partner Program Ahead of Production
Patented wireless fuse switch installs in minutes on virtually any vehicle; company recruiting distributors and installers nationwide
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — [July 28, 2026] — BlueConnect Automotive today announced SmartFuse™, a
patented wireless fuse-level switch designed to stop vehicle driveaway theft, and opened its distribution
partner program ahead of full production.
Vehicle theft has surged across the United States in recent years. Florida alone reported more than 27,000
incidents in 2025, with dealership lots and vehicles equipped with keyless entry systems increasingly targeted
by organized theft rings using relay attacks and key cloning.
SmartFuse is designed to close the gap left by OEM security systems, which typically cover only select new
models. The switch installs at the vehicle’s fuse box in minutes — no wiring cuts, no disassembly — and
works across virtually any make, model, or model year, including used and trade-in inventory.
“Organized theft rings don’t linger — they move fast across a lot, working with stolen, cloned, or swapped
keys and fobs to take several vehicles before anyone notices. Every vehicle on the lot is a target, no matter the
make or model. SmartFuse is the important first layer of defense: it prevents the car from starting, and
because it’s an under-hood solution, defeating it takes extra time and added exposure risk most thieves aren’t
willing to take on. That’s enough to cause all but the most determined thieves to move on,” said Craig
Tieman, Founder and CEO of BlueConnect Automotive.
SmartFuse is the core patented hardware underlying multiple firmware-configured use cases, including
EngineLock™, which prevents unauthorized engine starts, and DoorLock™, which blocks digital relay
attacks on power door locks. Additional configurations, DriveLock™ and SlowDown™, are in development.
BlueConnect Automotive holds multiple issued and pending patents in the United States, Canada, and Europe
covering the SmartFuse design.
The company is inviting automotive distributors, installers, and dealer networks to view a product
demonstration and express interest through a Letter of Intent at bca4cars.com/smartfuse_distributor, ahead of
anticipated production readiness in the coming months.
About BlueConnect Automotive
BlueConnect Automotive (Blue Eclipse LLC) develops SmartFuse, a patented wireless switch technology
built to make vehicle theft too risky to be worth it. The company is based in Punta Gorda, Florida, in
Southwest Florida, and is currently advancing SmartFuse from working prototype to full production.
Media Contact
Craig Tieman
Founder & CEO, BlueConnect Automotive / Blue Eclipse LLC
317.289.8780 | craig.tieman@bca4cars.com | bca4cars.com
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