A control apparatus for automatically activating a vehicle propulsion apparatus when the vehicle propulsion apparatus is initially switched off, the control apparatus comprising: a controller comprising an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving at least a first control signal generated in dependence on driver operation of a transmission controller and/or a primary vehicle control which controls a dynamic function of a vehicle ; an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein; wherein the electronic processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to: receive said first control signal from the first vehicle control ; receive an auxiliary signal (AUX) from one or more auxiliary vehicle systems; and in dependence on said first control signal, output at least a first activation signal (SIG EG1 ) for automatically activating the vehicle propulsion apparatus ; wherein the auxiliary signal (AUX) comprises a gaze tracking signal received from an eye-tracking device, the gaze tracking signal indicating the direction in which the driver is looking, the first activation signal (SIG EG1 ) being output only when the gaze tracking signal indicates that the driver is looking in a predetermined region. a controller comprising an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving at least a first control signal generated in dependence on driver operation of a transmission controller and/or a primary vehicle control which controls a dynamic function of a vehicle ; an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein; wherein the electronic processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to: receive said first control signal from the first vehicle control ; receive an auxiliary signal (AUX) from one or more auxiliary vehicle systems; and in dependence on said first control signal, output at least a first activation signal (SIG EG1 ) for automatically activating the vehicle propulsion apparatus ; wherein the auxiliary signal (AUX) comprises a gaze tracking signal received from an eye-tracking device, the gaze tracking signal indicating the direction in which the driver is looking, the first activation signal (SIG EG1 ) being output only when the gaze tracking signal indicates that the driver is looking in a predetermined region. receive said first control signal from the first vehicle control ; receive an auxiliary signal (AUX) from one or more auxiliary vehicle systems; and in dependence on said first control signal, output at least a first activation signal (SIG EG1 ) for automatically activating the vehicle propulsion apparatus ; wherein the auxiliary signal (AUX) comprises a gaze tracking signal received from an eye-tracking device, the gaze tracking signal indicating the direction in which the driver is looking, the first activation signal (SIG EG1 ) being output only when the gaze tracking signal indicates that the driver is looking in a predetermined region. <EOS>