A base control module for vehicles comprises, a controller which includes a housing, a programmable processor, on-board memory, and a plurality of inputs and outputs. The module also comprises, a set of pluggable module interfaces each comprising a standardized connector for any of a plurality of interchangeable pluggable modules, with each pluggable module having a different functionality, and each connector having a plurality of pins. A standardized communication protocol is provided between the base control module and any of the pluggable modules. Adaptable software on the base control module that can assign different configurations for the pins of the connector dependent upon the functionality of the pluggable module for those pins. The same base control module and set of pluggable module interfaces can be used for different pluggable modules.