Still Sky High
How aftermarket sunroofs continue to drive profits for dealers & restylers.
By Dino Perfetti | Photos courtesy Automotive Concepts
A professionally installed aftermarket power sunroof allows dealerships to keep customers within budget while still delivering the features they want.
Dino Perfetti is a 30-plus-year veteran of the automotive aftermarket and a recent past chairman of the SEMA PRO Council. He is engaged with several industry professionals with visions of increasing the opportunities to bring products to market through car dealerships. Having joined Automotive Concepts in 2008, he is the president, leading a team in customizing vehicles for over 250 dealerships throughout the Midwest.
Contact him at dino@ac-mn.com
In an automotive industry constantly chasing the next trend, one product category has quietly continued generating profits for decades: aftermarket power sunroofs.
Here at Automotive Concepts in New Hope, Minnesota, aftermarket sunroofs have remained a strong part of our business for nearly 40 years. While vehicle technology continues to evolve, consumer demand for open-air driving and natural light inside the cabin has never gone away.
“People still love sunroofs,” says Rick Bach, longtime installer at Automotive Concepts. “Customers get excited when they realize they can add the feature they really want without moving into a much more expensive trim package.”
That creates a major opportunity for dealerships.
Today, factory sunroofs are often tied to expensive upper-level packages that add thousands of dollars to the vehicle price. A professionally installed aftermarket power sunroof allows dealerships to keep customers within budget while still delivering the features they want.
WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY
Modern systems have come a long way from the old aftermarket roofs many people remember. Today’s premium systems feature OEM-style appearance, one-touch controls, integrated shades, advanced drainage systems and quiet operation.
Many of the systems installed at Automotive Concepts are supplied by Champion Auto Systems, which offers several popular roof configurations, including:
• H1000 panoramic series
• H700 tilt-and-slide system
• H321 large spoiler-style sunroof
“Not every customer wants or can afford the highest factory trim level,” says Bill North, president of Champion Auto Systems. “Aftermarket sunroofs give dealerships flexibility while helping customers stay in a comfortable payment range.”
The used-car market presents another major opportunity. Adding a power sunroof can dramatically improve the appearance and perceived value of pre-owned inventory, especially online where vehicles compete for attention.
“A vehicle with a sunroof simply stands out,” says North. “It creates emotion and helps attract buyers.”
Today’s premium systems feature attractive options such as OEM-style appearance, one-touch controls, integrated shades, advanced drainage systems and quiet operation.
A CLEAR PLAN OF ACTION
For aftermarket restyling shops looking to add sunroofs to dealer inventory, quality installation remains critical.
“Anybody can cut a hole in a roof,” Bach says. “The difference is making it look and perform like it came from the factory.”
For dealerships, sunroofs often become the starting point for larger accessory programs involving leather interiors, add-on accessories, lift kits, wheels, technology upgrades and full customization packages customers can choose from.
As vehicle prices continue to rise, aftermarket power sunroofs remain one of the industry’s most proven ways to add excitement, improve inventory flexibility and generate additional profits.
Sometimes the best opportunities are not the newest trends at all. Sometimes they are the products that continue delivering results year after year.
Sunroofs can be the starting point for larger accessory programs involving leather interiors, add-on accessories, lift kits, wheels, technology upgrades and full customization packages.
