In a method and apparatus for configuration of networked controllers in a vehicle that can be manufactured with various outfitting variants (that is, differing components and features), at least one controller being configurable to different outfitting variants of the vehicle, characterizing information is stored for the various outfitting variants of the vehicle. The data for configuring the controllers are stored in an outfitting variant controller on board the vehicle. A particular controller that is to be configured in this manner transmits characterizing information to the outfitting variant controller for configuration to a specified outfitting variant of the vehicle in which it is installed. The outfitting variant controller assembles the data for configuring the particular controller using the characterizing information and the data stored on the outfitting variant controller. The data assembled in this manner are written into a memory unit of the particular controller to configure to accommodate the specified outfitting variant.