GM introducing its first in-house diesel engine control unit (ECU)
By Andrew C., 26 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
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General Motors Co. claims to be the first automaker in the world to make its own diesel engine ECUs, with its launch of the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva small minivan at the Geneva Motor Show. With GM's introduction of its first in-house diesel engine control unit, it has announced its independence of unit suppliers such as Robert Bosch AG and Magneti Marelli. Rita Forst, head of Opel product development, said that the company will first focus on Europe, where it sells more diesels.
However, its own ECUs will soon be found everywhere. The advantage of having a proprietary engine control unit is that GM has more bargaining power with suppliers of diesel pumps and injectors. Typically, these suppliers provide the complete system including the control unit. Forst said that an in-house ECU also provides better functionality, more power, lower fuel consumption and emissions, and lower costs. GM's diesel ECU will be initially seen on a 1.7-liter diesel engine. In two to three years, the system will be applied as well to GM's 1.3-liter SDE (small diesel engine) and to the 2.0-liter "Family B" unit.
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