Infineon Technologies AG and Flex are advancing their collaboration to accelerate the evolution of software-defined vehicles (SDVs). At CES 2026, the two companies will unveil the Zone Controller Development Kit, a modular platform for Zone Control Units (ZCUs) designed to fast-track the creation of SDV-ready electrical and electronic (E/E) architectures. Built on a scalable framework and leveraging roughly 30 reusable building blocks, the kit empowers developers to configure a wide range of ZCU implementations with flexibility and speed, streamlining the path from concept to production.
In next-generation E/E architectures, ZCUs serve as critical hubs, connecting and powering numerous peripheral components across the vehicle. Because these peripherals vary among platforms and models, each vehicle often demands unique ZCU configurations. However, many current ZCU designs are not optimized for their specific applications or platforms, creating inefficiencies in both cost and performance.
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The new development kit addresses this challenge through a building block concept that enables developers to right-size their designs for specific implementations while maintaining room for future upgrades. This approach helps reduce the bill of materials (BOM), shorten development timelines, and support scalable innovation. The platform supports over 50 power distribution channels, 40 connectivity options, and 10 load control channels, facilitating rapid evaluation and early-stage application development.
For high-end implementations that demand maximum input/output density and processing capability, a dual-MCU plug-on module is available. This flexibility allows developers to begin with a full-featured “superset” design, then refine it to use either two cost-efficient MCUs or a single MCU, balancing functionality with budget requirements. This principle, “start with the superset, then optimize for cost without compromising performance or speed” is at the heart of the platform’s philosophy.
Infineon and Flex’s Zone Controller Development Kit enable all essential zone control functions, including I2t (ampere-squared seconds), overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, capacitive load switching, reverse polarity protection, secure data routing with hardware accelerators, A/B swap for over-the-air software updates, and cybersecurity. The pre-validated hardware combines best in class automotive semiconductor components from Infineon, including AURIX microcontrollers, OPTIREG power supply, PROFET and SPOC smart power switches, MOTIX motor control solutions and other products with Flex’s design, integration, and industrialization expertise. The software stack includes contributions by Vector to leverage widely adopted tooling and know how in embedded software, testing and integration.
