Marelli Port Fuel Injection ECU for Flex Fuel and CNG Markets

The global automotive powertrain landscape continues to evolve as manufacturers balance electrification with the ongoing demand for efficient internal combustion engines. In response to this diversified transition, Marelli introduced a new generation of engine management electronics designed to support multiple fuel technologies. The newly launched control platform targets markets where gasoline, flex fuel, and compressed natural gas vehicles still represent a significant share of new vehicle sales.

The product line focuses on Brazil, India and the EMEA region, where regulatory environments, infrastructure maturity and consumer demand continue to support internal combustion technologies. By developing region-specific versions of the control system, the company aims to offer automakers greater flexibility while maintaining compliance with local emissions standards and fuel ecosystems.

New ECU Platform Designed for Multiple Fuel Applications

The Marelli Port Fuel Injection ECU is engineered to support a broad range of fuel configurations, including gasoline, flex fuel blends such as ethanol and methanol, synthetic fuels, and compressed natural gas. This versatility allows automakers to deploy a single electronic control architecture across different vehicle programs while adapting calibration and control strategies to local fuel conditions.

To meet the needs of different regions, Marelli offers three variants of the control unit, each tailored to local regulatory frameworks and vehicle platform requirements. The company states that the systems are designed, validated and manufactured within their target markets, a strategy intended to reduce logistics costs, accelerate integration timelines and allow closer collaboration with regional automotive manufacturers.

Local Engineering and Production Strategy

Regional development and manufacturing play a central role in the product strategy. By designing and validating each ECU version locally, Marelli aims to address unique market characteristics such as emission legislation, fuel composition and vehicle architecture requirements. This localized approach also enables quicker validation cycles and supports collaboration between engineering teams and local automotive OEMs.

Infineon AURIX Microcontroller Enables Advanced Processing

At the core of the electronic architecture is Infineon's AURIX TC3x automotive microcontroller platform, which is widely deployed in safety-critical vehicle systems. The processor enables high-speed data processing, multitasking capability and compliance with ISO 26262 functional safety requirements. According to the company, the ECU application itself operates at ASIL B/C safety levels while leveraging the microcontroller’s ASIL D-ready capabilities.

The hardware architecture includes a high number of input and output channels, enabling precise control over fuel injectors, relays, valves and other actuators used in engine management. The ECU design supports up to eight gasoline injector drivers and four CNG injector drivers within the same electronic platform, allowing automakers to adapt the configuration to various combustion engine layouts.

Open Software Architecture and FOTA Capability

The software framework uses an open architecture that supports integration of third-party applications and allows vehicle manufacturers to implement their own calibration and homologation strategies. This flexibility enables customer-specific tuning while maintaining compatibility with broader vehicle electronic architectures and control networks.

The platform also supports Firmware Over-the-Air updates, enabling software revisions after vehicles are deployed in the field. This capability reduces the need for physical service interventions while allowing automakers to update calibration parameters, improve diagnostic strategies or introduce new control features throughout the vehicle lifecycle.

Diagnostics and Emissions Compliance Features

The control units incorporate advanced diagnostics systems to ensure regulatory compliance and long-term engine performance. Integrated Universal Exhaust Gas Oxygen sensors continuously monitor the air-to-fuel ratio, allowing precise combustion control and improved emissions performance. This monitoring capability plays a key role in meeting diverse emission regulations across global markets.

The ECU platform also supports OBDII pin-point diagnostics, which help identify specific system faults and improve serviceability for technicians and vehicle operators. Combined with integrated combustion algorithms and emission control strategies, the system enables automakers to optimize engine efficiency while meeting regional regulatory requirements.

Security Protection Against Unauthorized Calibration

Security functionality is built directly into the ECU platform to address concerns around unauthorized engine tuning. Anti-tuning protection mechanisms are designed to prevent modifications to engine calibration parameters that could compromise emissions compliance or vehicle warranty conditions. Such protection is becoming increasingly important as engine control systems grow more software-driven.

The launch of the Marelli Port Fuel Injection ECU highlights how automotive suppliers are adapting to a fragmented global powertrain landscape. While electrification continues to accelerate in many regions, markets such as Brazil and India maintain strong demand for combustion and alternative-fuel vehicles. By offering flexible control architectures that support multiple fuel technologies, Marelli aims to help automakers manage this transition while maintaining efficiency, emissions performance and regulatory compliance across diverse markets.