An automotive electronic control unit (4) configured to control operation of automotive direction indicators (2) based on motor vehicle-related data and by receiving current steering wheel angle (α) and motor vehicle speed (v), determining an initial steering wheel angle (α0) when a direction indicator (2) is activated, determining minimum and maximum steering wheel angles (αmin, αmax) reached during the period that the direction indicator is active, computing a steering wheel release angle (αr) based on the current motor vehicle speed (v), the steering wheel release angle (αr) representing the steering wheel angle (α) beyond which the motor vehicle's steering wheel is to be turned in the direction indicated by the active direction indicator to cause, when the steering wheel is turned in the opposite direction at the end of steering manoeuvre, the automatic deactivation of the active direction indicator (2), and determining if and when to deactivate the active direction indicator (2) based on the current steering wheel angle (α), the initial steering wheel angle (α0), the minimum and maximum steering wheel angles (αmin, αmax) and the steering wheel release angle (αr).