A growing enthusiasm for car sunroofs is pushing the world’s leading makers of the feature to join local partners in ramping up investments to tap this burgeoning market. Netherlands-based Inalfa Roof Systems along with its partner Gabriel India is looking to double capacity for manufacturing sunroofs in the next one year. The duo, which opened their first plant in Chennai in the first quarter of 2024, can currently produce up to 200,000 sunroofs annually.
Germany’s Webasto—a global leader in openable sunroofs—has started work to nearly double production capacity in the Indian market to 950,000 units per year by 2027, from the current 500,000 units.
Auto parts maker Uno Minda inked a technical licence agreement this August with Japan’s Aisin Corp., among the world’s top 10 Tier I component suppliers, to locally manufacture and sell vehicle sunroofs. “The Indian automotive market is witnessing a remarkable shift, with sunroofs rapidly becoming a sought-after feature,” said NK Minda, chairman and managing director, Uno Minda. “Sunroofs have seen multifold growth in recent years. This trend is only set to accelerate as sunroofs, once limited to larger SUVs and MUVs, are now increasingly finding their way into hatchbacks.”
The feature falls in the category of those that seem to be in high demand but are seldom used, such as cruise control, heads-up displays and advanced driver assistance systems, which means manufacturers are forced to offer them despite being of dubious utility in Indian conditions.
The sustained interest in sunroofs, notwithstanding challenging climate conditions, is indicative of Indian consumers’ aspirations and the evolving definition of ‘premium’ features, said Ravi Bhatia, president, Jato Dynamics, an automotive consultancy firm.
“In the sweltering heat of Delhi or Mumbai, a sunroof might rarely be fully opened, yet it remains a coveted feature. This paradox showcases the complex interplay between practicality and status symbol in the Indian auto market,” he said.
Minda said the Indian market for car sunroofs is mirroring the trajectory of developed markets with consumers increasingly embracing personalisation of their vehicles. India currently ranks among the fastest-growing markets for automotive sunroofs globally- —with the segment projected to grow 17.6% compounded annually in the five years to 2029—prompting parts makers to accelerate investments to step up local manufacturing.
Once considered a luxury feature, currently more than one out of every four cars (27.5%) sold in the Indian market is equipped with a sunroof, a sharp rise from about 12.7% five years ago, according to data from Jato Dynamics.
Uno Minda has already secured a “significant order” from an automaker and is investing in a greenfield sunroof manufacturing plant in Bawal (Haryana). The facility will have an initial capacity of 80,000 units per year
“We are also actively engaging with other OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and are fully prepared to make further investments to expand our capacity as the market grows,” said Minda.
Inalfa Gabriel Sunroof Systems (IGSS)—which runs the Chennai plant—also expects the sunroof market to grow at a rapid pace. The company expects to clock revenue of Rs 1,000 crore by 2030. IGSS started operations by supplying sunroofs to Hyundai and Kia. It is now looking to cater to other automakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra.
Mahendra Goyal, chief executive officer of ANAND Group, which controls Gabriel India, said IGSS is also looking at potential sites to build new factories given the strong demand for feature-rich cars and SUVs with sunroofs.
Webasto is investing 115 million Euros on its capacity expansion initiative. Speaking at the inauguration of the company’s second plant in Chennai, Jan Hennig Mehlfeldt, responsible for the global roof business at Webasto, said the company is “fully on course for growth” in India. He said the Indian automotive roof system market is experiencing a period of extremely rapid growth and openable panorama roofs are particularly in high demand.
Bhatia of Jato Dynamics said manufacturers now also seem to be adapting to this demand while addressing climate concerns. “There's a growing trend of offering advanced glass technologies that provide better heat insulation and UV protection, turning sunroofs into 'smart roofs' that enhance the feeling of spaciousness without compromising on comfort, he said.
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