Webasto To Open Third Plant in India To Meet Surging Demand for Sunroofs

The soaring demand for sunroof-equipped cars and SUVs in India, which is one of the fastest-growing global markets for this product category, is seeing global majors like Webasto expand their manufacturing capacity in the country. At present, there are nearly 150 passenger vehicles equipped with a sunroof in India. 

The global market leader for openable roof systems has announced plans to open a third production plant in India. The new facility in the Delhi-NCR region is scheduled to go into operation in the fourth quarter of 2026, said Joerg Buchheim, CEO of the Webasto Group, during a recent visit to India.

Over the past five years, the sunroof has become a very popular vehicle equipment feature in India, and demand has rapidly increased. The marked rise in demand for passenger vehicles with sunroofs is a result of the speedy shift in consumer demand for a higher level of comfort and convenience features.

Once a feature seen only in top-end variants of luxury cars, the sunroof has now percolated to the mass market and is now a standard fitment in all the high-selling models and is now one of the drivers of purchase decisions. 

The Mahindra BE 6 and XEV 9e SUVs are fitted with Webasto’s panoramic Infinity Roof system which sets new standards for ambient light in vehicle interiors. 

Production footprint logistically closer to automakers in India

Webasto India’s new plant is located between Manesar and Kharkhoda in Haryana and will primarily supply customers in this region. The facility is planned to support an annual capacity of around 500,000 units (sunroofs) and also to be logistically closer to key automakers in the region including Maruti Suzuki.

In February 2025, passenger vehicle market leader Maruti Suzuki India commenced production at its Kharkhoda plant which manufactures the Brezza compact SUV and has an initial production capacity of 250,000 units. 

Webasto India’s existing manufacturing facilities are located in the west (Pune) and south (Chennai) of the country and cater to key OEMs in the region including Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Hyundai Motor India and Kia India. M&M’s first two Born Electric SUVs (the BE 6 and XEV 9e) are fitted with Webasto’s ‘Infinity Roof’. For the integrated light feature in this product, Webasto uses optical coupling technologies in addition to LEDs to provide a customisable atmosphere. The light technology adapts to different conditions and user preferences, improving both comfort and aesthetics in the vehicle interior.

When its third plant goes on stream later this year, Webasto India’s total sunroof manufacturing capacity will stand expanded to two million units per annum, ahead of the company’s earlier forecast to achieve this growth by CY2027. 

The new Kharkhoda plant will also mean that Webasto will be represented in all major automotive clusters in India and is in line with the company’s aim to be logistically closer to its customers, offer increased flexibility, and strengthen the company's strategy of producing directly in its target markets.

"With our presence in a third automotive cluster, we are able to support customers with greater speed — enabling us to deliver solutions tailored to India’s diverse market and create meaningful employment opportunities across the country," said Vikas Prasad, president of Webasto India.

"Our investment in a third Indian location shows the key role this market now plays in Webasto's global activities. India is a driving force for the mobility of the future," pointed out Webasto Group CEO Joerg Buchheim in an official press note. Since 2019, Webasto has invested more than 110 million euros (Rs 967 crore) in the expansion of its Indian business and a total of 174 million euros (Rs 1,530 crore) is planned by 2030