GLASS OF CLASS

We talk to Venu Shanbhag, MD, Saint-Gobain Sekurit India, about just how useful glass is in cars

- Venu Shanbhag

Motoring World: From windshields, windows, and sunroofs to heads-up displays and integration of advanced driver assistance systems, glass is used in a myriad of aspects of car production. Which aspects have been a core focus in the past and which aspects will be the focus in the near future?

Venu Shanbhag: In the past light-weighting and thermal comfort was our primary focus. With the increased integration of electronics in cars, driver safety and comfort features like advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), head-up display (HUD), and other related technologies are also becoming popular. Acoustic comfort is also gaining traction in the market due to the total shift of the type of noise (or lack of it) that can be heard from an electric car compared to an internal combustion engine car. In the last few years, sunroofs are becoming very popular due to strong customer preference towards utility vehicles compared to small hatches and sedans and it is expected to grow rapidly in the near future.

MW: What are the technologies/ products that have been developed with the implementation of more stringent crash test norms in India and around the world?