The field of body (zone) domain research is rapidly evolving, with the installation of ZCU (Zone Controller) exceeding 2 million units and moving towards a “plug-and-play” modular platform. The body (zone) domain encompasses BCM (Body Control Module), BDC (Body Domain Controller), and ZCU, each playing a crucial role in the management and control of various vehicle systems.
BCM handles the control of body auxiliary electrical components such as doors, windows, lights, and wipers, with each vehicle typically having 1 to 2 BCMs. BDC, on the other hand, is responsible for driving lower-level modules like lighting modules, door modules, and seat modules, with the number of BDCs ranging from 1 to 3 in a vehicle. ZCU, as a zone controller, integrates functions across domains, replacing multiple ECUs with a single MCU and covering functions like gateway, power distribution, and chassis and powertrain functions.
According to ResearchInChina, the market size of the body (zone) domain in the Chinese passenger car market is projected to exceed 15.62 billion yuan by 2024, with ZCU installation surpassing 2 million units and a market size of 3.93 billion yuan. ZCU is poised to become a major driver of market growth in the future.
The trends shaping the development of zone controllers include MCU Less technology, edge AI computing, smart power devices like SmartFET, real-time performance, safety redundancy, and modularization for plug-and-play functionality. Companies like Infineon and Flextronics are working on launching modular zone controller platforms to optimize power distribution, gateway, and motor control.
Innovations like 10BASE-T1S Ethernet are revolutionizing in-vehicle communication systems, paving the way for software-defined vehicles and enhanced Zone architecture. With the introduction of 10M in-vehicle Ethernet, the traditional CAN bus system is expected to be replaced, leading to increased efficiency and reduced complexity in vehicle electronics.
Major automakers like Xiaomi Auto and XPeng Motors are embracing central computing and zone control architectures in their vehicle models, leading to significant reductions in the number of controllers, wiring harness length, weight, and space occupancy. These advancements are driving the industry towards smarter, more integrated vehicle systems.
Overall, the deep integration of chassis and powertrain functions into zone controllers is a key focus area for future development. Companies like Tesla and GAC are already implementing integrated chassis/powertrain designs, with a hybrid architecture of central decision-making and zone execution. These advancements are shaping the future of automotive electronic and electrical architecture, making vehicles more efficient, intelligent, and user-friendly.
