The automotive sunroof market is projected to witness substantial growth by 2027 driven by increasing focus of industry players on technological innovation and rising appeal of roof systems for car owners.

After the COVID-19 outbreak, healthcare agencies explained that there was a higher risk of transmission of the coronavirus in enclosed spaces. To that effect, governments across the globe issued rules that required vehicles to have fewer passengers, who were required to wear masks, in order to prevent the infection from spreading among them.

However, recent studies have found that increased airflow inside a car’s passenger cabin can potentially reduce the risk of transmission while sharing rides with other passengers. This has increased benefits of roof systems in improving airflow within cars, thereby fueling product demand.

Some challenges associated with roof systems were pertaining to their weight and lack of space. To address concerns about weight, manufacturers have been opting for lightweight materials like paper honeycomb and polycarbonate. In addition, to save space in the car, companies have been adopting compact drive units as well as roller blind systems.

These measures have improved the viability and functionality of roof systems, which is propelling market penetration across key markets. Moreover, industry players have expanded their offerings to include advanced technologies that meet consumer needs for more innovative and convenient systems.

In June 2021, Webasto, a leading supplier of roof systems, introduced its sliding panorama sunroof into the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The system’s huge glass surface promises a pleasant, bright ambiance inside the car.

The company also provides shading options through two roller blinds that can be controlled separately. The modular roof system and blinds can be operated seamlessly through gesture and voice control. This software can also be upgraded, which allows the technology to remain up to date.

The automotive sunroof market has been categorized on the basis of material, product, operation, distribution channel, and region. Based on product, the market has further been segmented into panoramic, pop-up, built-in, top mount/spoiler, and folding.

The folding sub-segment is expected to witness significant growth at a CAGR of over 7% through the forecast timeframe. Increasing demand for fiber sunroofs is contributing massively to segmental growth across the globe.

Rising popularity of larger sunroofs is a key factor driving the demand for folding sunroofs. Furthermore, the emerging trend for heating and cooling systems in convertible roof is also playing an important role in segmental adoption.

On the regional spectrum, the Latin America automotive sunroof market is estimated to observe steady growth at approximately 9.5% CAGR over the projected timeline.

Increasing spending capacity, facilitated by the recovering economy, has accelerated the demand for advanced vehicles in the region. Additionally, robust development of distribution channels and growing automotive components and parts aftermarket are among the major factors fostering industry penetration in the region over 2021-2027.

The Middle East & Africa region accounts for approximately 5% share of the overall market revenue and is anticipated to expand at a considerable pace through the study timeframe. Rising presence of major players across the region is expected to support market expansion across the region over the forecast period.