Why Tesla Dropped Opening Sunroofs and Focused on Glass Roofs

In a recent episode of Jay Leno’s Garage (segment starts at 15:49), Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy and chief designer Franz von Holzhausen discussed why opening sunroofs were removed while showing Jay Leno the new Model Y L. Leno noted his first Model S had a big opening sunroof.

Owners Stopped Using It

According to Tesla, the decision was based on usage data. Owners tended to use the sunroof “when they maybe first get the car, but then not really.” Leno compared it to a hot tub: “It’s like a hot tub afterwards.”

Downsides of Opening Sunroofs

Tesla described the mechanism as “a really complicated part that, you know, we see in service quite a bit.” It adds weight, requires many parts to build, and when most owners aren’t using it, the trade-offs aren’t worth it.

Better Glass Instead

Rather than keep an opening sunroof, Tesla concentrated on improving its fixed glass roofs. The company said it enhanced the laminated layers to reflect heat and sunlight and to block UVA and UVB rays “like the best sunscreen on the planet.” It also added a reflective silver coating and integrated antennas into the glass, removing the need for an external antenna.

Tesla says the Model Y L’s roof glass reflects up to eight times more solar energy and allows up to 30% less solar heat into the cabin compared to 2024 and earlier Model Y vehicles. Along with HVAC upgrades, that yields about seven miles of real-world range in hot weather.

Recent and Future Glass-Roof Advances

In 2023, Tesla introduced a new high-visibility glass roof for the Model S that weighed less and let in five times more light while keeping the same heat and UV protection. The lighter roof also lowered the car’s center of gravity.

Earlier this year, Tesla was granted a patent for a perforated glass roof that’s built into the HVAC system. It uses two layers of glass with thousands of tiny holes in the inner layer, allowing air from the climate system to flow out through the roof while also absorbing road and wind noise.

Opening sunroofs probably aren’t coming back to Tesla’s lineup. Instead, the company is continuing to improve fixed glass roofs to better block heat and noise.