A control system for a vehicle, the system comprising: multiple control systems (11a, 11b), each of the multiple control systems (11a, 11b) comprising: a motor operable to receive power from a power source upon receiving panel control signals, wherein the motor is adapted to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions when the motor receives power from the power source; a capacitive object sensor operable for detecting objects in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor, wherein the capacitive object sensor is adapted to generate an object signal indicative of an object being detected in the path of the panel; a controller operable for transmitting said panel control signals to the motor to move the panel along the path in accordance with said panel control signals, wherein when the panel is moving in a closing direction the controller is adapted to transmit a first panel control signal to the motor to reverse movement of the panel to an opening direction upon receiving the object signal in order to prevent the panel from entrapping an object; a switch console (4a, 4b) operable for transmitting command signals to the controller upon being activated by an operator, wherein the controller is adapted to transmit second panel control signals to the motor to move the panel along the path in accordance with the command signals; wherein the control system further comprises a master switch console independent of the controllers and the switch consoles (4a, 4b); and an in-vehicle local area network (43, 44) interconnecting the multiple control systems and the switch consoles (4a, 4b), including the independent master switch console, wherein the master switch console is adapted to communicate with the multiple control systems (11a, 11b) over the LAN (43, 44) to command the controllers to transmit the second panel control signals, wherein the LAN (43, 44) is a wired LAN or a wireless LAN; and wherein the master switch console and the multiple control systems (11a, 11b) share information with each other or with other connected electronic devices received over the LAN (43, 44). a motor operable to receive power from a power source upon receiving panel control signals, wherein the motor is adapted to move a movable panel of a vehicle along a path between opened and closed positions when the motor receives power from the power source; a capacitive object sensor operable for detecting objects in the path of the panel without monitoring the motor, wherein the capacitive object sensor is adapted to generate an object signal indicative of an object being detected in the path of the panel; a controller operable for transmitting said panel control signals to the motor to move the panel along the path in accordance with said panel control signals, wherein when the panel is moving in a closing direction the controller is adapted to transmit a first panel control signal to the motor to reverse movement of the panel to an opening direction upon receiving the object signal in order to prevent the panel from entrapping an object; a switch console (4a, 4b) operable for transmitting command signals to the controller upon being activated by an operator, wherein the controller is adapted to transmit second panel control signals to the motor to move the panel along the path in accordance with the command signals; wherein the control system further comprises a master switch console independent of the controllers and the switch consoles (4a, 4b); and an in-vehicle local area network (43, 44) interconnecting the multiple control systems and the switch consoles (4a, 4b), including the independent master switch console, wherein the master switch console is adapted to communicate with the multiple control systems (11a, 11b) over the LAN (43, 44) to command the controllers to transmit the second panel control signals, wherein the LAN (43, 44) is a wired LAN or a wireless LAN; and wherein the master switch console and the multiple control systems (11a, 11b) share information with each other or with other connected electronic devices received over the LAN (43, 44).