Continental’s MK 120 ESC Brake System Enhances Safety and Efficiency for Changan’s Vehicles

The Oshan X5 Plus is equipped with Continental’s latest brake system for Electronic Stability Control. © Changan

(IN BRIEF) Continental has partnered with Changan, a Chinese car manufacturer, to supply its new generation electronic brake system, the MK 120 ESC, for series production. The MK 120 ESC offers improved efficiency, cyber security features, and over-the-air functionality. It will be installed in Changan’s Oshan X5 Plus and Uni-T models for the Chinese market. The system is lightweight, compact, and can be easily installed. Production currently takes place in Shanghai, with additional locations planned in Europe, Japan, and India. The MK 120 ESC aims to cater to passenger cars globally. Continental’s brake system reduces weight, enhances security with individual keys, and is prepared for centralized vehicle system architecture.

(PRESS RELEASE) FRANKFURT AM MAIN, 12-May-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Continental (ETR: CON), a German multinational automotive parts manufacturing company, announces that it has partnered with Chinese car manufacturer Changan to supply its latest generation of electronic brake systems, the MK 120 ESC, for series production. This marks the first global deployment of the MK 120 ESC. Changan has equipped its latest Oshan X5 Plus and Uni-T models in the Chinese market with this advanced brake system. Designed to be highly efficient, the MK 120 ESC offers cyber security features, over-the-air (OTA) functionality, and easy installation. The system is currently manufactured at Continental’s Shanghai plant, with additional production locations planned in Europe, Japan, and India. The MK 120 ESC is targeted for passenger cars from manufacturers worldwide, and production is expected to begin with a European car manufacturer in 2023.

“We are developing new brake systems to meet the needs of trends like electrification, assisted and automated driving. Our MK 120 ESC guarantees high active safety performance and provides comfortable driving experience. The worldwide first market entry with our brake system at Changan is an important milestone for us,” said Dennis Fritsch, Head of Continental’s Active Safety and Controls Segment. 

Enhanced Efficiency and Compact Design for Energy Savings

Continental’s MK 120 ESC emphasizes lightweight and compact components to achieve energy savings, emissions reduction, and increased range for both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles. Compared to the previous generation, the MK 120 ESC features a completely optimized design of the valve block, solenoid valve, pump, and motor. Despite offering the same performance, it is approximately five percent lighter and seven percent smaller, delivering significant weight and size reduction.

Maximum Security with Individual Security Key

In response to the expanding scope of vehicle safety, including cyber security considerations with the development of assisted and automated driving, the MK 120 ESC incorporates an embedded hardware security module. This module meets the high cyber security requirements of the global industry and enables the brake system to generate individual security keys. Each product is assigned a unique key, ensuring maximum security. Even if one car is compromised, others remain protected. The MK 120 ESC also provides additional customizable information security functions, such as secure boot, data security protection, and communication security protection, ensuring comprehensive security measures.

Prepared for Centralized Vehicle System Architecture

The new MK 120 ESC brake system boasts high computing power, meeting the highest international standards for automotive functional safety. It supports AUTOSAR-based software and flexible data rate communication through a multi-channel controller area network. This readiness positions the system to adapt to the shift from a distributed to a service-oriented, centralized vehicle system architecture. Additionally, the product meets various over-the-air technology requirements, facilitating software upgrades and iterations across multiple application scenarios.

Media contact:

Sören Pinkow
Media Spokesperson and Topic Manager Safety and Motion
Continental Automotive
+49 69 7603-8492
soeren.pinkow@continental.com

SOURCE: Continental AG