The world’s largest automotive glass manufacturer, Fuyao Group, has confirmed that it has developed solar sunroof glass incorporating photovoltaic cells and has the capability to manufacture the product at scale, following earlier reports linking the technology to BYD vehicles.
Fuyao said the product embeds solar cells within laminated automotive glass, allowing sunlight to be converted into electricity for auxiliary vehicle loads. The company describes the technology as a “solar sunroof,” rather than a photovoltaic system covering the entire vehicle roof. According to Fuyao’s official product information, the electricity can be used to power onboard electrical equipment.
The technology is not entirely new to Fuyao. In May 2024, the company told investors that it had achieved mass-production capability for solar sunroof glass and was supplying the product for vehicle programs where customers required it. The latest disclosures therefore appear to signal progress toward commercialization rather than the completion of the technology itself.
Several Chinese automotive media reports since February have claimed that the system was jointly developed with BYD and would be offered on the Han and Tang models for an optional price of CNY 8,000 ($1,190). Other widely circulated figures include a peak output of 720 W and a conversion efficiency of 23.18%, based on heterojunction (HJT) solar cell technology.
However, neither Fuyao nor BYD has published technical specifications or a joint announcement confirming those figures. During a March investor briefing, Fuyao declined to identify its customers or disclose pricing, saying both were commercially confidential.
Fuyao recently said its factories in Fuqing Yangxia and Hefei had each reached production capacity of 3 million sets of automotive glass by the end of 2025 and were ramping up production in 2026. It has not disclosed what proportion, if any, of that capacity is dedicated to solar sunroofs.
Vehicle-integrated PV (VIPV) is unlikely to replace conventional EV charging because of the limited surface area available on passenger cars. Its more immediate role is likely to be supplying low-power auxiliary loads while vehicles are parked, potentially reducing battery drain and supporting ventilation and other standby functions. Fuyao’s move toward volume production suggests that automotive PV is shifting from a largely experimental application toward a more commercial product.
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