Sky is the limit: Huge OEM demand drives sunroof biz

The automotive industry demand for a premium feature like sunroofs is driving the market that expects to cross seven lakh units of sales during CY23, up from five lakh units in CY22, writes Shahkar Abidi.

- Shahkar Abidi.

The global automotive sunroof market value stood at $6.43 billion in 2021 and is predicted to rise to $14.19 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.2 percent between 2021 and 2030. India is also experiencing a demand for this premium feature in luxury and premium cars.

Pune-based Saint-Gobain Sekurit India (SGSIL), a part of the Paris-based Saint-Gobain is a big player as an automotive glass specialist for OEMs. Going by current business trends, SGSIL expects the demand for sunroofs to double and cross half a million units by the end of CY22.

The automotive industry is expected to cross seven lakh units of sunroof sales during CY23, up from five lakh units in CY22. In comparison, just about two lakh units of sunroofs were installed in CY21, an internal estimate by SGSIL has indicated. The company commands almost 50 percent market share in this specialist segment.

Venu Shanbhag, Managing Director, SGSIL said, "If someone had asked me just a few years ago about the market size for car sunroofs in India, I would have said zero and we all have been proven wrong." Even a year ago, estimates would have been around 2,00,000 units per year. "However, next year, the market is on track to sell around 7,00,000 sunroofs."